Premises liability law in Colorado holds property owners and occupiers accountable for any accidents and injuries that occur on their property. This responsibility to maintain safe environments extends to both private and public properties. If a landowner, operator, or manager fails to proactively manage these hazards, and you or your loved one gets injured, you may have the right to seek financial compensation from them.
At Zobel Legal Group, our premises liability law firm in Colorado represents victims who have suffered harm on dangerous property in a wide range of cases, including a slip and fall accident, falling objects, poor security measures, unsecured pets, and more. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. We are available both in-person and virtually through Zoom or FaceTime.
What is a Premises Liability Claim in Colorado?
According to the Colorado premises liability laws (C.R.S. § 13-21-115), anyone who owns a property or is responsible for its maintenance, security, and safety may be held liable if someone gets injured there. Even a third party, such as a contractor or a maintenance company, could be held legally responsible for your injury by our personal injury attorney in Colorado.
There are three types of entrants on a property:
Invitees: Those who enter the property for the benefit of the owner, such as a customer in a store. The highest duty of care is owed to invitees. Property owners must take reasonable steps to ensure the property is safe and must inspect for unknown hazards.
Licensees: Those who enter the property for their own purposes but with the owner’s permission, like a social guest. Property owners must warn licensees of dangerous conditions that are known to them but might not be obvious to the licensee.
Trespassers: Landowners owe a limited duty to trespassers; they only need to refrain from willful or wanton injury. However, an exception exists for known threats on frequently trespassed properties where owners must warn of lethal dangers. The attractive nuisance doctrine also mandates protecting children from unsafe conditions (e.g., swimming pools) likely to attract them.
Legal Responsibility of Property Owners in Colorado
If you get injured, the “burden of proof” lies with you, i.e., you have to prove that the property owner breached their duty of care and it directly resulted in your injury. To that end, your Denver premises liability lawyer must establish the following three elements:
The owner/operator/manager knew or should have reasonably known about the dangerous condition that caused your injury.
They did not take reasonable steps to remedy the danger or properly warn you about the danger.
Your injury was a direct and natural result of the dangerous condition.
If you were an invitee, you may recover damages for injuries caused by the property owner's failure to inspect and repair hazards, including those the owner should have known about. Licensees may recover damages for injuries from conditions the owner knew about but did not warn them of. In case of trespassers, owners are only liable for injuries caused by intentional harm.
Steps to Take After an Injury on Someone Else’s Property in Colorado
Call 911 if the injury is severe, or visit an emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care physician as soon as possible.
Notify the property owner, manager, or other responsible party about the injury immediately. Request a written report and keep a copy for your records.
Take photos of the accident scene, including any hazards (e.g., wet floors, broken stairs) and your injuries. Collect contact information from any witnesses.
To help your slip and fall lawyer in Colorado accurately calculate your damages, keep a journal documenting your injuries, pain levels, medical treatments, missed work, and other ways the injury affects your daily life.
Do not talk to insurance adjusters or property owners without consulting your premises liability attorney in Colorado.
Follow your Colorado injury attorney's advice closely, be it regarding continuing your treatment or filing a personal injury lawsuit if a fair settlement is not reached.
Types of Premises Liability Claims We Handle in Colorado
At Zobel Legal Group, common premises liability claims where we can represent you include:
Slip, trip and falls (from same-level and elevated surfaces)
Accidents due to ice- or snow-covered walkways
Injuries from falling objects
Swimming pool accidents or drownings
Elevator or escalator malfunctions
Injuries due to negligent security (e.g., overcrowding)
Accidents in amusement parks or theme parks
Injuries from unsafe playground equipment
Accidents due to improper lighting
Fires caused by broken wiring or lack of fire alarms
Toxic exposure (mold or asbestos) and chemical spills
Construction site accidents
Accidents at gyms, sports facilities, restaurants, hotels, motels, resorts, convenience stores, retail stores, and other businesses
How Our Denver Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help
The sooner you speak to our Denver premises liability lawyers, the faster we can start building your case and gathering strong evidence to obtain the highest possible settlement for you. Our Colorado premises liability injury attorneys will:
Examine how and where the injury occurred
Determine the negligence of the property owner/manager
Collect all possible evidence to establish liability
Determine your legal status (invitee, licensee or trespasser)
Calculate the extent of your financial damages
Identify all insurance policies (your own and the at-fault partys’) available to recover maximum compensation
Start a premises liability claim based on the Colorado premises liability act
Enter settlement negotiations and speak in your defense in and out of court
Analyze the settlement offers and determine whether you should accept one
Take your case to trial if the premises liability case cannot settle out-of-court
Get Strong Legal Representation from Our Colorado Premises Liability Lawyer
If your injuries were caused by negligence by your landlord, a public or private property owner, a business owner, a mass transit authority, or a government organization in Denver or elsewhere in Colorado, our experienced premises liability lawyer in Colorado can maximize your compensation. We not only offer free premises liability case evaluations, but also work on a contingency-fee basis. This means we only get paid when you do. To schedule your free consultation, call Zobel Legal Group at 720-434-6674 or contact us online.