Denver Premises Liability Attorney | Premises Injury Lawyers
Denver Premises Liability Lawyer

Denver Premises Liability Attorney

Property owners in Denver have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe. When unsafe conditions lead to serious injuries, a Denver premises liability lawyer helps injured individuals pursue compensation through a premises injury claim. These cases arise when property owners fail to fix hazards, ignore known dangers, or neglect basic safety measures.

Premises liability claims can involve a wide range of incidents, including slip and fall accidents, unsafe stairways, inadequate security, falling objects, and burn injuries. Under Colorado law, liability often depends on why the injured person was on the property, what condition caused the injury, and whether the property owner took reasonable steps to prevent harm. Insurance companies frequently challenge these claims by disputing notice, responsibility, or fault.

At Manning Herington Law Firm, our premises liability attorneys in Denver represent people injured on commercial properties, residential buildings, and public spaces throughout the Denver and Aurora areas. We investigate how the injury occurred, identify responsible parties, and handle insurance negotiations so clients can focus on recovery while their rights are protected.

What Is Premises Liability Under Colorado Law?

Premises liability is the area of law that holds property owners and occupiers responsible when unsafe conditions cause injuries. In Colorado, these claims are governed by the Premises Liability Act, which outlines when an injured person may recover compensation for injuries that occur on someone else’s property.

At its core, a premises liability claim asks three key questions:

  • Was there a dangerous condition on the property?
    Did the property owner know or should they have known about it?
    Did the failure to address that condition cause the injury?

If the answer to each is yes, the property owner may be legally responsible for the harm that occurred.

Unsafe Conditions That Lead to Premises Liability Claims

Premises liability cases often involve hazards that could have been prevented with reasonable care. Common examples include wet or slippery floors, uneven walkways, broken stairs, poor lighting, inadequate security, falling objects, and exposed fire or burn hazards. 

These conditions may exist in stores, apartment complexes, parking garages, workplaces, or private homes.

Property owners are not required to guarantee absolute safety, but they are expected to take reasonable steps to correct known dangers or warn visitors when hazards cannot be fixed immediately.

Why Premises Liability Law Matters After an Injury

After a serious injury, property owners and insurance companies often argue that the accident was unavoidable or that the injured person is to blame. Premises liability law exists to address these situations by examining whether reasonable care was exercised and whether preventable dangers were ignored.

A Denver premises liability lawyer evaluates how the law applies to a specific incident, identifies violations of property safety duties, and determines whether a valid claim exists.

Common Types of Premises Liability Cases in Denver

Premises liability claims can arise in many different settings. What they have in common is that an injury occurred because a property owner failed to address or warn about a dangerous condition that could have been prevented with reasonable care.

Some of the most common types of premises liability cases include:

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are one of the most frequent premises liability claims. They often involve wet floors, icy sidewalks, uneven surfaces, loose carpeting, or poor lighting. When property owners fail to maintain safe walking areas or provide adequate warnings, they may be held responsible for resulting injuries.

Trip and Fall Hazards

Trip and fall accidents are caused by obstacles or changes in elevation that are not easily visible. Common hazards include broken sidewalks, cracked pavement, exposed cords, cluttered walkways, and damaged stairs. These cases often hinge on whether the hazard existed long enough for the owner to fix it.

Inadequate Security and Negligent Security

Property owners may be liable when injuries result from foreseeable criminal activity due to inadequate security measures. These cases can involve assaults, robberies, or other violent acts in apartment complexes, parking garages, hotels, or commercial properties where lighting, locks, or security staffing were insufficient.

Falling Objects and Structural Hazards

Injuries can occur when shelves, signage, ceiling materials, or other objects fall due to poor maintenance or improper installation. Structural defects such as collapsing railings or balconies may also give rise to premises liability claims.

Burn and Fire-Related Injuries

Premises liability cases may involve burn injuries caused by exposed wiring, faulty heating systems, unsafe appliances, or lack of proper fire safety measures. These injuries often result in significant medical treatment and long-term consequences.

Swimming Pool and Recreational Area Accidents

Pools, gyms, and recreational facilities present unique safety risks. Property owners may be liable when they fail to follow safety regulations, provide adequate supervision, or maintain equipment properly.

Visitor Status and Why It Matters in Colorado Premises Liability Cases

Colorado premises liability law classifies injured visitors based on why they were on the property at the time of the accident. This classification affects the level of care a property owner owes and can influence whether compensation is available.
Understanding visitor status helps explain why some premises liability claims succeed while others face challenges.

Invitees

Invitees are people who are invited onto a property for business or public purposes. This includes customers in stores, tenants in apartment buildings, hotel guests, and visitors to public spaces.
Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care. They are expected to regularly inspect the property, fix dangerous conditions, and warn invitees about hazards that cannot be repaired right away.

Licensees

Licensees are social guests or others who are permitted to be on the property for non-commercial reasons. Examples include friends visiting a home or guests attending a private event.
Property owners must warn licensees about known dangers that are not obvious, but they are not required to actively inspect the property for hazards in the same way they must for invitees.

Trespassers

Trespassers are individuals who enter a property without permission. In most cases, property owners owe limited duties to trespassers and are generally not responsible for injuries unless the owner acted intentionally or created a hidden danger.
There are exceptions, particularly when children are involved or when dangerous conditions are intentionally concealed.

Why Visitor Classification Affects Liability

Insurance companies often rely heavily on visitor status when evaluating premises liability claims. Misclassifying an injured person can significantly impact a case.
A Denver premises liability lawyer reviews the facts of an incident, determine the correct classification, and challenge unfair liability defenses raised by property owners or insurers.

Why Choose Manning Herington Law Firm?

At Manning Herington Law Firm, we strive to provide a client-focused approach to every case that we take, which means that we listen to the goals and needs of every car accident victim that comes through our door.
We promise that our clients will work directly with their attorney throughout their entire auto accident case, and we believe in open and honest communication the entire time.
We offer free consultations, and we can meet you in our office, at your house, at the hospital, or through a video conference. Our law firm handles personal injury cases in Denver, Centennial, Aurora, and Highlands Ranch.

Meet the Attorney

Denver, Colorado personal injury lawyer Robert Manning

Attorney Robert Manning brings over 15 years of legal experience and specializes in personal injury cases such as car accidents, motorcycle accidents, spinal cord injuries, and more. As lead attorney at Manning Herington Law Firm, Robert offers expert legal representation and is dedicated to helping clients who have suffered from serious accidents or injuries. Robert Manning is a highly skilled Denver personal injury attorney with a successful track record of securing million dollar settlements and verdicts for clients across the Denver area.

Client Testimonials

“Manning Law took all of my stress and concern out of my personal injury case so I could focus on my health and family. Thank you for turning a worrysome experience into a pleasant one.”

– Nick C.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“My experience with Manning Law was fantastic! He explained the complete process on day one and my case went exactly as described. No guessing and no surprises. I have an attorney I can trust and count on for any future needs!”

– Mark W.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

How a Denver Premises Liability Lawyer Can Help

A premises liability lawyer in Denver can assist you with the complicated legal side of your claim, such as gathering evidence of negligence or fault. When you file a premises liability claim, you are given the burden of proof. This means your attorney must establish that the property owner is at fault for your injury with at least a 51 percent certainty. Hiring a lawyer allows you to rest and focus on healing from your injury while an experienced professional handles claims filing, evidence collection, expert witnesses and settlement negotiations.

What Types of Compensation Are Available?

At Manning Herington Law Firm, we know that no dollar amount can reverse your injuries or give you back the life you had before your accident. However, we hope that achieving a fair settlement can help your family move forward from a premises liability accident with greater peace of mind. Our attorneys aim to hold wrongdoers accountable for the full extent of losses suffered by our clients.

You may be entitled to recover the following types of damages, or financial compensation:

  • Costs of necessary medical care, such as surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, physical therapy and prescription medications.
  • Disfigurement or disability, including physical impairment, debilitation, visible scars, paralysis, brain damage or other catastrophic injuries that come with lifelong consequences.
  • Losses of income, including wages missed while recovering from your injury and lost capacity to earn in the future due to a permanent disability.
  • Pain and suffering, which can include physical pain, emotional distress, mental hardship, psychological harm, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium.
  • Wrongful death damages in the event of a fatal accident, such as the price of a funeral and burial and lost income the deceased person would have provided in the future.

Property owners in Colorado are required to carry certain amounts of insurance. In your premises liability case, there may be a homeowners, renters or commercial property insurance policy available to pay for your losses. If the insurance policy is not sufficient to meet your needs, our lawyers can help you file a civil lawsuit.

Understanding Colorado’s Premises Liability Laws 

The Colorado Premises Liability Act (Colorado Revised Statutes Section 13-21-115) states that landowners are responsible for the safety of their properties. If an injury occurs while on the real property of another person due to the condition of such property, the landowner can be held liable – meaning legally and financially responsible. Colorado law describes landowner liability for three types of properties visitors:

  1. Trespasser: a person who does not have the landowner’s permission to enter or remain on a property. A trespasser may only recover damages that are willfully or deliberately caused by the landowner. There are exceptions, however, for trespassers under the age of 18.
  2. Licensee: a person who lawfully enters a property for social purposes or reasons unrelated to a business. A licensee may recover damages caused by the landowner’s unreasonable failure to exercise care with respect to dangers or defects that the landowner knew about or the landowner’s unreasonable failure to warn of unusual dangers.
  3. Invitee: a person who enters a property with the owner’s express or implied invitation, such as a customer at a business. An invitee may recover damages caused by the landowner’s unreasonable failure to remedy known defects or hazards, warn of unusual dangers, or inspect a property for unknown risks.

If your injury in Denver stemmed from a landowner’s poor property maintenance or failure to repair a known property defect, you may be eligible for financial compensation. This includes injuries that occur on both private and public property. You may need an experienced premises liability attorney in Denver to investigate your accident to determine if you have grounds for a premises liability claim.

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Examples of Premises Liability Cases in Denver

At Manning Herington Law Firm, our Denver personal injury lawyers can handle all types of premises liability cases. We know how to navigate all the most common types of property defect claims, including:

  • Amusement park accidents
  • Building or structural fires
  • Ceiling collapses
  • Construction site accidents
  • Daycare center injuries
  • Dog bite injuries
  • Elevator or escalator accidents
  • Exposure to toxic substances
  • Hotel or motel accidents
  • Negligent security
  • Parking lot accidents
  • Slip or trip and fall accidents
  • Staircase accidents
  • Swimming pool accidents

Our Denver slip and fall attorneys have handled numerous premises liability claims and have experience successfully representing injured victims. If you don’t see your type of accident on this list, contact us for a one-on-one consultation with one of our Denver premises liability attorneys. We will review your potential claim for free.

Types of Injuries Often Involved in Premises Liability Cases

At Manning Herington Law Firm, our Denver attorneys represent clients who have suffered all types of injuries in preventable accidents. If you were diagnosed with any kind of bodily injury after a property-hazard-related incident, contact us to discuss how our personal injury lawyers can help you recover.

Common injuries include: 

  • Broken bones
  • Burn injuries
  • Drowning injuries
  • Eye and ear injuries
  • Hip fractures
  • Internal injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Losses of limbs
  • Muscle injuries (sprains and strains)
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Toxic exposure
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Wrist and elbow injuries
  • Wrongful death

Our premises liability lawyers will make sure you are receiving the medical care that you need to recover as much as possible from a painful injury. Then, we will help you prove your injuries and related losses to an insurance company to secure maximum compensation.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on a Premises Liability Case in Denver?

Do not wait to contact an attorney about a potential case, as you could miss the state’s statute of limitations, or time limit for filing a lawsuit. The law imposes a strict deadline of two years, in most cases. According to Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-102: “(1) The following civil actions, regardless of the theory upon which suit is brought, or against whom suit is brought, must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues, and not thereafter:

“(a) Tort actions, including but not limited to actions for negligence, trespass, malicious abuse of process, malicious prosecution, outrageous conduct, interference with relationships, and tortious breach of contract; except that this paragraph (a) does not apply to any tort action arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle as set forth in section 13-80-101(1)(n).” 

If you get injured on public property or land owned by the government, however, you will only have 182 days to file your claim under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. Other circumstances can also shorten or extend the filing deadline. The best way to preserve your right to recover compensation is by contacting our premises liability attorneys without delay.

Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability Claims in Denver

1. What qualifies as a premises liability claim in Colorado?

A premises liability claim arises when someone is injured due to unsafe conditions on another person’s property. Common examples include slip and fall accidents, inadequate security incidents, falling objects, burns, and structural hazards. The key issue is whether the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to keep the premises safe.

2. How do I prove a property owner was negligent?

These cases often depend on whether the property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to correct it or provide a warning. Evidence such as incident reports, surveillance footage, maintenance records, and witness statements can help establish negligence.

3. Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

Possibly. Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you were less than 50% responsible for your injuries, you may still recover compensation, though your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies frequently raise comparative fault arguments in premises cases.

4. How long do I have to file a premises liability claim?

Most premises liability claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury. Claims involving government-owned property may have much shorter notice deadlines. Missing these deadlines can prevent recovery, even if liability is clear.

5. Do I need a Denver premises liability lawyer to file a claim?

Premises liability cases often involve disputed facts, insurance defenses, and complex legal standards. A Denver premises liability lawyer can help preserve evidence, evaluate liability, and pursue compensation that reflects the full impact of your injuries.

6. Do I need a Denver premises liability lawyer to file a claim?

Premises liability cases often involve disputed facts, insurance defenses, and complex legal standards. A Denver premises liability lawyer can help preserve evidence, evaluate liability, and pursue compensation that reflects the full impact of your injuries.

When Unsafe Conditions Lead to Injury, Accountability Matters

Premises liability injuries can create lasting physical, financial, and emotional challenges. When a property owner’s failure to maintain safe conditions leads to harm, understanding your legal options early can make a meaningful difference. These cases often involve disputed facts, insurance defenses, and strict deadlines, making careful evaluation important.

At Manning Herington Law Firm, our Denver premises liability lawyers provide straightforward guidance and handle cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no legal fees unless compensation is recovered. We offer free consultations to review how the injury occurred, explain your rights, and outline potential next steps. To learn more, contact our office or call 720-605-9784  to schedule a confidential case review.