Many slip and fall injuries in Norman don’t happen deep inside a store aisle. They happen right where people least expect it: the parking lot, the sidewalk, the curb ramp, or the entryway. One step on slick concrete or uneven pavement can lead to a broken wrist, a back injury, or a head impact that changes your week, your job, and your health.
If you slipped outside a store or at the entrance of a business in Norman, you may be wondering who is responsible. The answer depends on who controlled the area and whether the hazard should have been fixed or clearly warned about.
Why Parking Lots and Entryways Are Common Fall Zones
Parking lots and entryways are high-traffic spaces exposed to weather, vehicle traffic, and ongoing wear-and-tear. Common hazards we see around retail shopping areas include:
- Oil, grease, or spilled fluids in parking spaces
- Potholes, broken pavement, or uneven surfaces
- Cracked sidewalks or lifted concrete slabs
- Loose gravel, debris, or construction materials
- Poor lighting near entrances, curbs, or stair steps
- Wet entryways during rain, ice, or snow
- Slippery floors just inside the doors from tracked-in water
These hazards are especially common in busy shopping centers where multiple stores share the same lots and sidewalks.
Who Can Be Liable for a Fall Outside a Store in Norman?
In Oklahoma, the party responsible is often the one who owned, controlled, or maintained the area where you fell. Depending on the location, liability may fall on:
- The store or business you were visiting
- The shopping center or property owner
- A property management company hired to maintain the premises
- A contractor responsible for cleaning, repairs, or construction work
In other words, the name on the front of the building is not always the party responsible for the parking lot or sidewalk. Many retailers lease space and share responsibility with a landlord or management company.
Parking Lot Falls Are Not “Just Bad Luck”
Property owners and businesses have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep common areas safe. That doesn’t mean every fall leads to a claim. It does mean that if a dangerous condition existed long enough to be noticed and fixed, or if the hazard was created by poor maintenance, compensation may be available.
Liability often comes down to questions like:
- Was the hazard present long enough that it should have been addressed?
- Were warning signs used when conditions were dangerous?
- Was the area properly maintained and inspected?
- Was lighting adequate to see the hazard?
- Was the sidewalk or curb ramp in disrepair for a long time?
Entryway Falls: The Most Common “Gray Area”
Entryway injuries are especially common in Norman during rainy days and winter weather. People track water in, mats shift, and floors become slick fast. Stores are expected to anticipate this. Reasonable safety steps may include:
- Floor mats placed correctly and secured
- Wet floor signs when conditions require them
- Regular inspection and cleaning schedules
- Proper drainage and maintenance near entrances
When those steps are ignored, the store or property owner may be responsible for injuries that follow.
What to Do After a Fall in a Norman Parking Lot or Entryway
If you’re injured, your first priority is your health. But documentation matters too, especially when the fall happened outside where responsibility can be disputed.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible
- Take photos or video of the hazard, lighting, and surrounding area
- Report the incident to store management and request documentation
- Ask for the property manager’s information if it was a shopping center
- Get witness names and contact details if anyone saw the fall
- Keep the shoes and clothing you wore in the condition they were in
Many properties have surveillance cameras that may capture the incident. The sooner the situation is addressed, the better the chance of preserving footage.
Why These Claims Can Get Complicated
Parking lot and entryway claims often become a blame game. One party points to another. The store blames the landlord. The landlord blames a maintenance vendor. Meanwhile, the injured person is left dealing with the consequences.
A careful legal investigation can identify who truly controlled the area, what maintenance was required, and whether the hazard should have been corrected.
Talk to a Norman Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you slipped in a Norman parking lot or entryway after shopping, you don’t have to guess who’s responsible. A free case review can help you understand whether legal action makes sense and what your next step should be.
Speak with a Norman slip and fall lawyer at Aldridge Teasdale.
There are no upfront fees, and you don’t pay unless we recover compensation for you.
