What is the liability of a municipality for negligence?
In Oklahoma, municipal law states that a municipality may be found liable for negligence if its employees or agents do not exercise reasonable care while acting within the scope of their duties. This includes both intentional and unintentional acts. The municipality must have actual or constructive knowledge that such negligence was a possible risk before they can be liable. Examples of negligence can include a municipality failing to remove dangerous debris from a street, failing to properly maintain a sidewalk or other public property, or failing to provide adequate security. In such cases, a municipality can be held liable for damages if the injured party can prove that the municipality or its agents knew or should have reasonably known about the risk. Generally, a municipality is not liable for negligence if it had reasonable time to act but failed to do so. Additionally, the municipality must be given notice of the risk in order to be held liable. In some cases, a municipality may be able to invoke immunities, which may protect it from liability. Overall, when it comes to liability for negligence in Oklahoma, municipalities remain responsible if their employees or agents do not exercise reasonable care when acting within the scope of their duties. These responsibilities include taking reasonable steps to reduce risks and informing the public of potential risks when applicable.
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