While the following story is specific to the state of Oklahoma, it contains premises liability information that is pertinent here in the Bay Area and, really, anywhere in the United States. The Oklahoma Supreme Court reversed the ruling of a lower judge that decided an icy sidewalk that causes a slip and fall could not be compensated under workers’ comp. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of an employee of the Oklahoma State University at Oklahoma City, who slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk.
Ice may not be a huge factor in the Bay Area, but the idea behind this ruling is that the employee’s fall happened during the course of her employment, which qualified it as workers’ comp.
Now, let’s say that you slip and fall while you are at work, and the premises that caused the fall was poorly maintained by your employer. This would be a situation where the employer is responsible for what happened to you.
Outside of the scope of work, a business, individual or party can be held liable for a slip and fall incident if they failed to provide a safe environment for patrons or guests. This could happen at a supermarket where a spilled bottle of liquid causes a shopper to slip and fall; or it could happen at a creaky old apartment where the landlord failed to properly fix a staircase or a shoddy piece of carpeting or flooring.
When someone slips and falls due to dangerous conditions, the victim can suffer serious injuries that change their lives. This should never be forgotten, and the victims need to think about their next legal move.
Source: Insurance Journal, “Oklahoma High Court Validates Workers’ Comp Icy Sidewalk ‘Slip and Fall’ Claim,” Stephanie K. Jones, June 30, 2016
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