A simple trip on a wet floor at a Tulsa grocery store or a fall down a poorly lit stairwell at an apartment complex can leave you with broken bones, head trauma, and mounting medical bills.
If a property owner's carelessness caused your injuries, you deserve answers, and you deserve compensation. Our Tulsa slip and fall accident lawyers at DM Injury Law are here to listen, investigate what happened, and fight for the recovery you need to move forward.
Slip-and-fall claims are more complicated than many people realize. Property owners and their insurance companies often push back hard, blaming the injured person or denying that any hazard existed.
We see this every day, and we know how to counter it. We bring real resources to every claim we accept, from a fall at a Tulsa Hills shopping center to an injury at a Brookside restaurant.
Call (918) 398-0934 or contact us online today for a free consultation.
Why Hire Our Tulsa Slip and Fall Lawyers?
When you've been hurt on someone else's property, you need a legal team with the resources, reputation, and reach to take on tough cases.
DM Injury Law has about 70 attorneys and 250 support staff members who help clients with each specific aspect of their cases, from medical record review to accident scene investigation to settlement negotiations. We have secured over $1 billion for our clients, and we bring that same drive and preparation to every slip and fall case we accept.
Insurance companies for big-box stores, apartment complexes, and commercial property owners have one goal, and that is to pay you as little as possible. They have teams of adjusters and defense lawyers working to undermine your claim from the moment you report your injury.
We level the playing field by bringing the same firepower to your side of the case. Our team of slip and fall accident lawyers digs into the facts, gathers the evidence, and builds the kind of case that gets results.
We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing up front and owe no attorney fees unless we win your case. That means there's no financial risk to hiring us, and no reason to wait. The sooner you call, the sooner we can start protecting your rights and building your claim.
If you've suffered a slip and fall injury in Tulsa, get the aggressive advocacy you need. Contact DM Injury Law today at (918) 398-0934 for a free consultation. We're available 24/7 and don't get paid unless we win.
What Is a Slip and Fall Accident Under Oklahoma Law?
A slip and fall accident happens when a dangerous condition on someone else's property causes you to lose your footing and suffer an injury.
These cases fall under a branch of personal injury law called premises liability, which holds property owners responsible for hazards they knew about or should have known about. Oklahoma law requires property owners to maintain reasonably safe conditions for the people they invite onto their land.
The exact duty owed depends on why you were on the property in the first place. A customer at a Tulsa retail store is owed a higher level of care than a trespasser, for example. Most slip-and-fall claims involve people who were lawfully on the property as customers, tenants, guests, or workers, meaning the property owner had a clear legal obligation to ensure their safety.
When that obligation is ignored, and someone gets hurt as a result, the injured person has the right to pursue compensation. Our Tulsa slip and fall accident lawyers can review the facts of your case and help you understand whether you have a valid claim under Oklahoma premises liability law.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Tulsa
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, from a neighborhood sidewalk in Maple Ridge to a parking garage downtown. Some hazards are obvious, while others are hidden until it's too late. We've helped clients recover after falls caused by all kinds of preventable dangers, including:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Uneven pavement and sidewalks
- Poor lighting
- Broken stairs and missing handrails
- Snow and ice
- Cluttered walkways
- Defective flooring
These hazards often have one thing in common, and that is a property owner who failed to take reasonable steps to address a known danger. When that failure leads to a serious injury, we help our clients hold the responsible party accountable.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in Tulsa?
Slip and fall accidents happen all over Tulsa, and the location of your fall often plays a big role in who can be held responsible. Some properties pose greater risks than others because of the volume of foot traffic, the type of surfaces involved, or the level of maintenance the owner provides. We've handled slip and fall claims involving incidents at:
- Grocery stores and big-box retailers
- Restaurants, bars, and coffee shops
- Apartment complexes and rental properties
- Hotels and motels
- Office buildings and parking garages
- Shopping centers like Woodland Hills Mall and Utica Square
- Gas stations and convenience stores
- Public sidewalks and crosswalks
- Hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes
- Schools, gyms, and recreational facilities
No matter where your fall happened, we can investigate the property, review surveillance footage, talk to witnesses, and determine who was responsible for keeping the area safe.
How Do You Prove a Slip and Fall Claim in Oklahoma?
To win a slip and fall case in Oklahoma, you generally have to prove that the property owner was negligent and that their negligence caused your injury. That means showing the owner knew about the hazard or should have known about it, failed to fix it or warn you, and that this failure directly led to your fall.
Evidence is the backbone of any slip and fall claim. The stronger your evidence, the harder it is for the insurance company to deny what happened or shift the blame to you. Helpful evidence often includes photos of the hazard, surveillance video, incident reports, witness statements, and medical records that connect your injuries to the fall.
This is where having an experienced legal team makes a real difference. We know how to preserve evidence quickly, request video footage before it's deleted, and work with experts who can reconstruct what happened. The sooner we get involved, the more we can do to protect your case.
What Is Oklahoma's Comparative Negligence Rule?
Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault for your fall, as long as you were less than 51% responsible. Your final award is reduced by your percentage of fault. So if you're found 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would receive $80,000.
Insurance companies often try to use this rule against injured people by exaggerating their share of the blame. They may argue that you weren't watching where you were going, that you were wearing the wrong shoes, or that the hazard was open and obvious. We push back hard against these tactics and work to make sure fault is assigned fairly based on the actual evidence.
This is one of the most important reasons to have a Tulsa premises liability lawyer review your case before talking to the property owner's insurance company. Anything you say can be used to shift blame onto you, and a single offhand comment can cost you thousands of dollars in compensation.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Cases in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, you generally have two years from the date of your slip and fall accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is set by Oklahoma's statute of limitations for tort claims. If you miss it, you usually lose the right to pursue compensation through the courts, no matter how strong your case might have been.
There are some exceptions that can shorten or extend this deadline. Claims against city, county, or state government entities, for example, often require notice within a much shorter window under the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act.
If your fall happened on government property in Tulsa, you may have as little as one year to take action, and you have to follow strict notice procedures along the way.
Because deadlines can vary depending on the facts of your case, it's smart to talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your fall. We can review your situation, identify the applicable deadlines, and make sure your claim is filed on time.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Tulsa Slip and Fall?
Slip and fall injuries can cost you far more than the price of a hospital visit. Between medical bills, lost income, and the daily impact of a serious injury, the financial toll adds up quickly. Oklahoma law allows injured people to pursue compensation for a wide range of losses, including:
- Medical Expenses: Coverage for emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, medications, and future medical needs related to your injury.
- Lost Wages: Reimbursement for income you lost while recovering, plus future earnings if your injury affects your ability to work long term.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by your injuries.
- Out-of-Pocket Costs: Repayment for things like transportation to medical appointments, mobility aids, and home modifications.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Damages for the activities, hobbies, and relationships you can no longer enjoy the way you did before.
Every case is different, and the value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, and the impact the fall has had on your life. We work closely with each client to make sure no loss goes overlooked.
How Long Does a Slip and Fall Case Take to Resolve?
The timeline for a slip and fall case in Tulsa depends on a few key factors, including the severity of your injuries, how long it takes you to reach maximum medical improvement, and whether the insurance company is willing to negotiate fairly. Some cases settle in a matter of months, while others take a year or more, especially if a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Our slip and fall accident attorneys in Tulsa never push a case to settle before you're ready, and we never let an insurance company pressure you into accepting less than your claim is worth.
Our focus is on getting you the strongest possible result, even if that means going to trial. At the same time, we work to keep your case moving forward and communicate with you throughout the process.
Call (918) 398-0934 or contact us online today for a free consultation.
FAQs for Tulsa Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers
Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from people who've been hurt in slip and fall accidents around Tulsa.
What should I do if a store asks me to fill out an incident report after my fall?
You can fill out a basic incident report with the date, time, and location of your fall, but be careful about what you say. Stick to the facts of what happened, and don't speculate about the cause or accept blame. Avoid signing anything that looks like a release or settlement, and ask for a copy of the report before you leave.
Can I still file a claim if I didn't go to the hospital right away?
Yes, but the delay can make your case harder. Insurance companies often use a gap in medical treatment to argue that your injuries weren't serious or weren't caused by the fall. If you've been hurt, see a doctor as soon as possible and tell them about the fall, even if some time has already passed.
What if I fell at a friend's house or a family member's home?
You can still file a claim, and most of these cases are paid through the homeowner's insurance policy rather than out of your loved one's pocket. We understand how uncomfortable it can feel to consider legal action against someone you know, and we handle these situations with care and respect.
Who is responsible if I slip and fall at an apartment complex?
Responsibility usually falls on the property owner or management company, depending on where the fall happened and what caused it. Common areas like hallways, stairwells, parking lots, and laundry rooms are typically the landlord's responsibility to maintain. We can investigate the property's maintenance history and determine who should be held accountable.
What if the property owner says the hazard was obvious?
The defense often argues that an injured person should have seen and avoided the hazard, but that argument doesn't always hold up. Even open and obvious hazards can support a claim if a reasonable person would still have been hurt under the circumstances. We push back on these defenses with evidence and expert testimony when needed.
Does it cost anything to talk to a Tulsa slip and fall lawyer?
No. Your consultation with us is completely free, and we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing up front, and we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you.
What if my fall happened on a public sidewalk or in a city park?
Claims against government entities follow different rules and have shorter notice deadlines. You may have as little as one year to file a notice of claim with the right agency. We can help you identify the responsible party and meet every legal deadline along the way.
Call a DM Injury Law Slip and Fall Attorney in Tulsa
A serious slip and fall can leave you in pain, out of work, and unsure where to turn. You don't have to figure it out alone.
Our Tulsa slip and fall accident lawyers are ready to listen, answer your questions, and fight for the full compensation in a personal injury claim you deserve. We've built our reputation on going the distance for our clients, and we're ready to do the same for you.
Call DM Injury Law today at (918) 398-0934 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. We're available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.
Call (918) 398-0934 or contact us online today for a free consultation.