In an Oklahoma slip and fall, the property owner is at fault if they failed to use reasonable care to keep the place safe for the kind of visitor you were; you can seek compensation as long as you file on time and are not mostly to blame yourself.
When the property owner is at fault
Oklahoma treats slip and falls as premises liability cases, meaning the owner/occupier must keep the property reasonably safe. Liability depends heavily on why you were there.
- Invitee (customer, tenant, delivery person): Owner owes the highest duty; they must inspect, fix hazards (like spills, broken steps, ice), and warn about dangers that are not obvious.
- Licensee (social guest): Owner must use reasonable care and warn about hazards they know about but that are not obvious; they are not usually required to inspect as regularly as for customers.
- Trespasser: Owner generally owes little duty and usually is not liable unless they intentionally harm you or special rules for children apply.
To hold an owner responsible, you generally must show there was a dangerous condition, the owner knew or reasonably should have known about it, failed to fix or warn, and that this caused your injury.
Your fault vs. their fault (51% rule)
Oklahoma uses “modified comparative negligence” with a 51% bar. You can recover money only if you are 50% or less at fault; if you are 51% or more at fault, you get nothing.
If you are partially at fault but under 51%, your compensation is reduced by your share of fault (for example, 20% at fault means a 20% reduction in damages).
Things that can increase your share of fault include ignoring warning signs, walking while distracted, wearing unsafe footwear for obvious conditions, or crossing clearly blocked‑off areas.
Deadlines: how long you have
For most Oklahoma slip and fall injuries, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit under Oklahoma Statute §12‑95.
If you miss this statute of limitations, a court will usually dismiss your case, so it is important to speak with a lawyer well before the two‑year mark.
What compensation you can seek
If the owner is liable and you are under the 51% fault bar, you can generally claim:
- Medical bills (ER visit, follow‑up care, surgery, therapy, medications).
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity if you miss work or your earning ability drops.
- Pain and suffering and impact on daily life or activities you can no longer do.
- Property damage (for example, broken glasses, phone, or other items in the fall).
The exact amount depends on injury severity, how clear the evidence of negligence is, and how much fault (if any) is assigned to you.
Practical steps if you slipped and fell
If this already happened to you in Oklahoma, it helps to:
- Get medical care immediately and follow all treatment; medical records link the fall to your injuries.
- Report the incident to the property owner/manager, and request a copy of any incident report, plus save photos of the scene, hazard, shoes you wore, and your injuries.
- Gather witness names and contact information, and keep all bills and proof of lost income.
- Talk to an Oklahoma personal injury or premises liability lawyer as soon as you can so they can evaluate fault under the 51% rule and protect your rights before the two‑year deadline.
If you tell me where in Oklahoma this happened (store, apartment, sidewalk, etc.) and when, I can help you think through how fault is likely to be viewed under these rules.
