Oklahoma City Premises Liability Attorney

Property owners must maintain safe environments for visitors, but when they ignore safety rules, innocent people get hurt. An Oklahoma City premises liability attorney holds negligent owners accountable for the harm caused by hazards such as uneven pavement, wet floors, broken stairs, and aggressive dogs.

DM Injury Law stands between you and the insurance companies that try to deny your claim. We investigate the accident, gather evidence, and demand full payment for your losses. You focus on healing while we handle the legal battle.

Call (405) 900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Why Choose DM Injury Law for Your OKC Premises Liability Case

You have many options for legal representation, but DM Injury Law offers distinct advantages. Our team combines local knowledge with aggressive litigation strategies. We know how Oklahoma courts operate and the tactics insurance adjusters use to minimize payouts. 

An Oklahoma City premises liability attorney from our team builds your case with precision. Mike’s got this! 

Local Knowledge Matters

Oklahoma City presents unique hazards. From icy walkways in northwest OKC during winter to busy retail floors at Penn Square Mall, we know the landscape. We know how accidents happen in the bustling streets of Bricktown and the quiet corners of Mesta Park. 

Our team investigates accidents throughout the city, from Quail Springs Mall to businesses along the Northwest Expressway. We use this geographic familiarity to strengthen your claim. We identify cameras, witness patterns, and property ownership records specific to our community.

No Upfront Costs

Many people worry about paying for a lawyer. DM Injury Law operates on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. We cover the costs of investigation and filing. Financial stress limits your ability to recover. We remove that barrier. 

Our Comprehensive Approach

We approach every new case with a rigorous strategy designed to uncover the truth. We visit the scene to gather photos, video surveillance, and physical evidence before the owner repairs the hazard. Our team also speaks to witnesses who saw the fall or knew about the dangerous condition beforehand. 

We work with doctors to fully document the extent of your injuries and future medical needs during a detailed medical record review. Finally, we engage in aggressive negotiation on your behalf. 

A History of Results

Our firm has a history of helping clients just like you recover justice and compensation after an accident. Whether you were hurt in a slip & fall, by a dog, or in another incident, we’ve got your back.

Take a look at some of our successful case results:

• $3,400,000: Our client was shot in a pawn shop and suffered serious injuries in her knees.
• $1,500,000: Our client was helping his neighbor on his farm when he was hit by a truck that rolled down the hill.
• $1,000,000: Our client sustained facial injuries and seizures after falling through the attic of a house.

Call (405) 900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Oklahoma City Property Owners Must Maintain Safety

Premises liability law centers on the duty a property owner owes to visitors. A store owner, apartment manager, or homeowner must use reasonable care to keep their property reasonably safe for visitors. They must fix hazards in a reasonable time. If they cannot fix a problem immediately, they must warn visitors of the danger.

Our skilled Oklahoma City premises liability attorneys can identify the exact moment the owner failed you, and connect their negligence directly to your injury.

The Standard of Reasonable Care

The law asks what a reasonable property owner would do. A reasonable owner cleans up spills quickly, fixes broken stairs, and provides adequate lighting in parking lots. If the owner of a building in Midtown leaves a spill for hours, they fail the standard of reasonable care. 

Types of Visitor Status

Oklahoma law classifies visitors into categories, and your category determines the level of protection you receive.

The three statuses include:

• Invitees: Customers at the Outlet Shoppes or guests at a hotel receive the highest protection. Owners must inspect for hidden dangers.
• Licensees: Social guests visiting a friend’s home in The Paseo fall here. Owners must warn of known dangers.
• Trespassers: People without permission receive the least protection, though owners cannot intentionally or recklessly harm them.

Common Premises Liability Accidents in Oklahoma City

Danger waits in unexpected places, from the stairwells of apartment complexes to the walkways of busy office parks. Each setting presents unique risks and operates under distinct legal standards. A landlord faces different obligations than a restaurant owner or a government entity. 

DM Injury Law represents clients injured in diverse environments across the metro area. We analyze the specific circumstances of the property to pinpoint exactly where the owner failed their duty.

Slip and Fall Incidents

Slip and fall accidents commonly occur in grocery stores, restaurants, and shopping centers. A leaking freezer case at a supermarket creates a puddle. A mopped floor without a sign creates a trap. Tracking snow or rain into a lobby turns tile into ice.

Trip and Fall Hazards

Uneven surfaces cause people to trip, and broken sidewalks, torn carpet, and hidden extension cords pose threats. A crumbling curb in a parking lot can send a pedestrian to the emergency room. Poorly leveled elevators cause people to stumble upon entry.

Negligent Security Claims

Business owners must protect visitors from foreseeable crime. This applies to apartment complexes, hotels, and parking garages. If an owner knows about crime in the area but fails to hire security or install lights, they may bear responsibility for attacks.

A dark parking lot invites criminal activity. Broken gates at an apartment complex allow intruders to enter. If you suffer an assault on commercial property, the owner may share the blame. 

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

Oklahoma holds dog owners strictly liable for bites in many situations. A dog owner must control their animal, including in public parks like Myriad Botanical Gardens or private neighborhoods. Dog attacks cause scarring, nerve damage, infection, and even psychological harm.

Retail and Commercial Spaces Hazards

Retail giants and sprawling shopping centers welcome massive crowds every day, creating constant wear and tear on the facilities. This high volume demands strict attention to cleanliness and repair, yet store directors frequently prioritize revenue over risk management. 

They often understaff shifts or delay necessary maintenance to protect their profit margins. This negligence leaves dangerous hazards in the path of unsuspecting customers.

Commercial spaces often contain specific hazards:

• Spills and Debris: Shoppers drop items, and bottles shatter, so retailers must patrol aisles frequently to clean up these hazards. 
• Escalator/Elevator Malfunctions: Mechanical failures cause serious crushing injuries in busy areas like Penn Square Mall. 
• Parking Lot Defects: Potholes and faded crosswalks pose a danger to pedestrians in poorly lit areas. An owner acts negligently when they fail to clear ice that they created or allowed to accumulate in an unsafe manner during winter weather.
• Falling Merchandise: Big box stores often stack heavy items on high shelves without proper restraints. 
• Inadequate Lighting: Burned-out bulbs in parking garages and stairwells hide tripping hazards and invite criminal activity. 
• Obstructed Aisles: Fire codes require clear paths for evacuation, but managers sometimes clutter walkways with promotional displays. 
• Malfunctioning Automatic Doors: Sensors on sliding doors can fail and cause heavy glass panels to close on visitors. 

Residential Premises Liability in OKC

Private homeowners also face liability rules. Accidents happen at backyard BBQs and neighborhood gatherings. A homeowner might leave a hole in the yard uncovered, causing a friend to trip and get injured, or a deck railing might break when someone leans on it. 

Swimming pools present distinct dangers when property owners neglect safety standards. Gates need secure latches to prevent children from entering the water unsupervised, and barriers should meet specific height requirements. 

A cracked drain cover or a slippery deck turns a recreational area into a hazard. Owners bear the responsibility for following local safety ordinances to protect their guests. 

Government and Public Property Claims

Injuries happen on city sidewalks, in public parks, and in government buildings. Suing the government involves different rules, and the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act sets strict deadlines. You have less time to file a Notice of Claim (often within one year of the loss).

OKC is often responsible for its sidewalks and must use reasonable care to maintain them. However, sometimes the adjacent business owner holds the duty under local ordinances, or when the owner creates the hazard. 

Public Parks and Rec Centers

Playground gear wears down over time, and erosion creates dangerous holes in open fields. When a municipality ignores these reported hazards, it puts visitors at risk. We search for records of prior complaints to demonstrate that city officials knew about the defect before you got hurt. 

Establishing this prior knowledge significantly strengthens a claim against government entities.

The Role of Evidence in Your OKC Premises Liability Case

An Oklahoma City premises liability attorney constructs a fortress of proof to protect your claim. Insurance adjusters build files designed to minimize their financial loss, often omitting key details that support your version of events. We reject their biased narrative. 

Instead, your Oklahoma City premises liability attorney conducts an independent inquiry to secure raw data, surveillance footage, and witness testimony before it disappears. Our team meticulously compiles every fact so the truth stands on a foundation that the defense cannot shake.

We’ll build you a strong case using these critical pieces of evidence:

Expert Witnesses: We may hire engineers and safety professionals to explain why a staircase violates code or to define industry standards that provide objective proof of negligence.

Video Surveillance: Cameras capture the truth, so we demand footage from security feeds, doorbell cameras, and dashcams to prove how long a hazard existed.

Incident Reports: Store managers often write internal reports that contain their version of events and may list witnesses, so we use the legal process to request these documents.

Maintenance and Cleaning Logs: Sweep logs can show when an employee last checked an aisle, and missing entries suggest negligence because the store failed its duty.

FAQ for Oklahoma City Premises Liability Attorney

What Counts as a Premises Liability Case in Oklahoma?

Premises liability covers any injury caused by a property owner’s negligence. This includes slip and falls, dog bites, swimming pool accidents, elevator malfunctions, and negligent security incidents. 

If a hazard on someone else’s property hurt you, you likely have a claim. An Oklahoma City premises liability attorney can evaluate the specific facts to confirm the case validity.

How Long Do I Have To File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma generally allows two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. This time limit applies to most personal injury claims. However, claims against the government have much shorter deadlines, often requiring notice within one year or less. 

Contacting an OKC premises liability lawyer quickly helps protect your rights; waiting too long may bar you from recovering any compensation. 

Can an Oklahoma City Premises Liability Attorney Help Me if I Was Partially at Fault for My Fall?

Oklahoma uses a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can recover compensation as long as you bear less than 51% of the fault. The court, however, reduces your payout by your percentage of fault. 

Who Pays for My Medical Bills After a Slip and Fall in Oklahoma City?

The property owner’s liability insurance usually pays for your bills through a settlement or judgment. This might be a homeowner’s policy or a commercial general liability policy. Until your case settles, you may have to use your own health insurance to cover immediate costs. 

We work to ensure the final settlement covers reimbursement for these expenses.

Does the Open and Obvious Defense Kill My Case?

While insurance companies often argue that the danger stood out so clearly that you should have avoided it, exceptions exist. If the hazard was unavoidable or if you were distracted by store displays, the owner may remain liable. 

We analyze the scene to show why the hazard presented a trap despite being visible.

Secure Your Future With Strong Representation

No one expects to leave home for a simple errand or visit a friend’s house and end up in the hospital, yet a property owner’s negligence can alter your life in moments. An unexpected injury brings physical pain and financial stress that requires a strong legal response. 

DM Injury Law can step in to manage the legal battle while you focus on healing. We’ll aggressively pursue full compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. 

Call (405) 900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.