Recovering Premises Liability Compensation: When Property Owners Blame Victims
If you were on someone’s property and a hazardous condition caused your slip-and-fall accident, it is important to stay calm and, if you are able, document the environment and any hazards that were present that may have caused your accident. Then, you should report your slip-and-fall accident to the property owner. If the establishment was a commercial one, you can ask for an accident report.
However, while these are the right initial steps to take, that doesn’t mean that the property owner will willingly accept responsibility for your accident. In fact, it is pretty common for property owners to deny fault and even go as far as to blame victims for the accident happening. When this happens to you, it can continue to complicate your situation and be a source of additional stress.
Property owners do not want to assume liability when a slip-and-fall accident happens on their premises. This is especially true if they don’t have the right insurance to cover the damages of the injured party or if they don’t want to have to report the accident to their insurance and end up having a higher premium.
If you were injured on another party’s property, filing a claim to get the compensation you need can be challenging. An Oklahoma personal injury attorney at the Putnam Law Office can assist you with your claim.
Obtaining Compensation After a Slip and Fall Accident When You Are Being Blamed
After you have gathered information and evidence of the accident scene and reported your accident to the property owner, you should seek medical treatment for your injuries. Then, it can be beneficial to call an attorney to help you with your case. In the meantime, it is best for you to avoid discussing your accident with anyone other than your attorney and stay off of social media until your claim has concluded. Taking these steps and precautions can increase your potential of getting the most out of a claim, even when the property owner is trying to avoid accepting liability.
The good news is that even if it is determined that you are somewhat at fault for your accident, you may still be able to receive compensation. Oklahoma’s modified comparative negligence system gives you the right to compensation, but it will be reduced by the amount of fault you are determined to have. The caveat under this system is that if you are ruled to be 50% or more at fault, then in this scenario, you would be unable to obtain any compensation.
Speak to an Attorney at the Putnam Law Office Today
It is not uncommon for property owners to try and blame injured parties when a slip-and-fall accident happens on their property. This can make obtaining compensation a bit more difficult, but not impossible. Depending on the case facts, an injured party may obtain full compensation or a reduced amount of compensation if they are somewhat at fault.
For help with a premises liability claim to get the money you need for your damages, please call the Putnam Law Office at (405) 849-9149 to schedule a free consultation with an Oklahoma City personal injury attorney.
