Slip and fall accidents can be seriously injurious if not fatal for victims. Whenever you’re trying to manage your life after a slip and fall, you must know the best practices of what to next so you can get the most out of any legal action you undertake.
Injured in Oklahoma City? Call Warhawk Legal at (405) 397-1717 for a free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
As one of Oklahoma’s best slip-and-fall law firms, we’ve assembled some tips on the dos and don’ts to pay attention to when you or a loved one is healing from a slip and fall.
If you still have questions after reading this blog, call us at (405) 397-1717. An experienced and compassionate Oklahoma City slip-and-fall lawyer can help you.
What To Do After A Slip and Fall Accident
1. Seek Medical Attention
If you’re in a slip-and-fall accident, you must first get medical attention immediately. Depending on the severity, it may be best to call emergency medical professionals to the scene or get a follow-up evaluation later. Refrain from delaying medical attention, even if you think your injuries are minor.
The crucial thing about seeking medical attention is that it occurs sooner rather than later. This can provide more evidentiary support, which is important for your next step.
2. Gather Evidence
After the accident, begin to collect evidence immediately. Evidence will be the critical aspect if you are able to conclude your case successfully and prove the liable parties negligence. Do not discard evidence, especially like the clothes and shoes worn during the accident.
Types of evidence in a slip and fall case include:
- Photographs and Videos
- Witness Statements
- Accident Reports
- Medical Records
- Maintenance Records
- Expert Testimony
- Personal Documentation
- Clothing and Footwear
3. Report the Accident
If you called 9/11, there will naturally be a report of the accident. But there are more ways to report it, too. Contact the staff or other individuals who manage or own the premises where you were injured to lodge a report with them. Knowing you followed the proper protocols and procedures will only help you in the long term.
4. Keep Records of Expenses
Receipts and other documents that show you paying for bills and other expenses post-accident are critical to calculating the damages you could be entitled to.
What Not to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
1. Leaving the Premises Immediately
Ensure you have reported the accident and gathered necessary evidence before leaving the scene. Stay at the scene long enough to take photos and videos, as it is your right to do.
2. Talk to Insurance Agents
Be cautious when speaking with insurance agents. Provide only basic information and avoid detailed statements until you consult a lawyer. Do not sign documents or agree to any settlements without professional legal advice.
3. Do Not Discuss the Accident Online
Refrain from posting about the slip and fall accident on social media or online forums. Avoid sharing details of the incident or your injuries to prevent any information from being used against you in your claim.
If you wish to learn more about the best practices you should follow after you or a loved one slips and falls, contact our team at Warhawk Legal by calling (405) 397-1717. Our Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers are more than happy to help answer or clarify anything surrounding your case.
Oklahoma Statute of Limitations and Comparative Fault in Slip and Fall Claims
Oklahoma gives slip and fall victims two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Claims against government-owned premises — city sidewalks, public buildings, state facilities — require written notice within one year under the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act. Missing this notice deadline eliminates the claim regardless of the evidence. An attorney files the required notice immediately and manages both deadlines.
Oklahoma’s modified comparative negligence system applies to slip and fall cases: your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage, and eliminated if your fault exceeds 50%. Property owners routinely argue that the hazard was “open and obvious” and that you bore full responsibility for watching where you walked. Courts evaluate obviousness based on the actual conditions at the time — lighting level, distraction factors, hazard placement, and whether any warning was posted. An attorney builds the record showing that the hazard was not obvious to a reasonable person under the actual conditions present.
Compensation Available in Oklahoma Slip and Fall Cases
You can recover all medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Oklahoma imposes no cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Serious fall injuries — spinal damage, hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries — produce damages that extend years beyond the fall itself, and a complete case includes future care projections from medical experts. Contact Warhawk Legal for a free consultation: (405) 397-1717. Contingency fee — no charge unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
The property was cleaned up and repaired before I could photograph it — does that hurt my case? A spoliation demand sent immediately by an attorney requires the property owner to preserve any remaining evidence including maintenance logs, incident reports, and surveillance footage. Destruction of evidence after a demand can result in adverse inference instructions at trial.
The property owner claims I was looking at my phone — does that bar my claim? Looking at a phone may assign you some comparative fault, but does not bar the claim as long as your fault does not exceed 50%. The property owner’s failure to maintain a safe floor remains the primary cause regardless of where you were looking.
Oklahoma Statute of Limitations and Comparative Fault in Slip and Fall Claims
Oklahoma gives slip and fall victims two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Claims against government-owned premises — city sidewalks, public buildings, state facilities — require written notice within one year under the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act. Missing this notice deadline eliminates the claim regardless of the evidence. An attorney files the required notice immediately and manages both deadlines.
Oklahoma’s modified comparative negligence system applies to slip and fall cases: your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage, and eliminated if your fault exceeds 50%. Property owners routinely argue that the hazard was “open and obvious” and that you bore full responsibility for watching where you walked. Courts evaluate obviousness based on the actual conditions at the time — lighting level, distraction factors, hazard placement, and whether any warning was posted. An attorney builds the record showing that the hazard was not obvious to a reasonable person under the actual conditions present.
Compensation Available in Oklahoma Slip and Fall Cases
You can recover all medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Oklahoma imposes no cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Serious fall injuries — spinal damage, hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries — produce damages that extend years beyond the fall itself, and a complete case includes future care projections from medical experts. Contact Warhawk Legal for a free consultation: (405) 397-1717. Contingency fee — no charge unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
The property was cleaned up and repaired before I could photograph it — does that hurt my case? A spoliation demand sent immediately by an attorney requires the property owner to preserve any remaining evidence including maintenance logs, incident reports, and surveillance footage. Destruction of evidence after a demand can result in adverse inference instructions at trial.
The property owner claims I was looking at my phone — does that bar my claim? Looking at a phone may assign you some comparative fault, but does not bar the claim as long as your fault does not exceed 50%. The property owner’s failure to maintain a safe floor remains the primary cause regardless of where you were looking.
Learn more from our contact us for a free consultation. Call us for a free case review.
Learn more from our personal injury attorney in Oklahoma City. Call us for a free case review.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact our experienced Oklahoma City slip and fall attorney at Warhawk Legal. We offer free consultations and only get paid when you win.