Premises liability refers to a property owner’s legal duties for maintaining their property and when they are financially liable for injuries that occur when they fail to uphold them. Critical aspects of premises liability cases include your legal status at the time of the accident and the property owner’s knowledge of dangerous conditions on the property. The Littleton premises liability lawyers at Dulin McQuinn Young are well-versed in handling these types of legal claims. We can advise you of your legal rights and options following an accident on someone else’s property.
Colorado’s Premises Liability Law
Colorado’s Premises Liability Act is the exclusive remedy against landowners for injuries occurring on their property. Property owners are responsible for keeping their property safe from hazardous conditions that could injure visitors. Their specific responsibilities depend on the visitor’s status on their property, as follows:
- Invitees – Invitees are business customers or other people who enter property for the owner’s benefit. Property owners must warn invitees of dangers they know about. They must also inspect their property regularly to identify and correct dangerous conditions that could harm invitees.
- Licensees – A licensee is someone who enters a property for their own purposes with the property owner’s permission, such as a social guest. Property owners must exercise reasonable care in warning licensees about hazards they created or know about.
- Trespassers – Trespassers do not have the property owner’s permission to be on the property. Property owners are only liable for damages they cause by willfully or deliberately harming trespassers.
Dangerous Conditions That May Provide a Right to Compensation Following a Premises Liability Accident
To recover compensation for a premises liability claim, you must be able to show the property owner failed to maintain the property, created an unsafe condition, or allowed a dangerous condition to continue for such a time that it should have reasonably been discovered. Hazardous conditions on properties that could provide a basis for a premises liability claim include:
- Wet or icy floors
- Spills from food, produce, or other substances that are not promptly cleaned up
- Leaking toilets, faucets, or soda machines
- Uneven pavement or sidewalks
- Cracked pavement or potholes
- Falling merchandise due to improperly stocked shelves
- Loose steps
- Defective escalators or elevators
- Inadequate lighting
- Negligent security
What Damages Can I Recover in a Premises Liability Case?
If you were injured on someone else’s property, you could be entitled to financial compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help explain the potential value of your case and work to secure maximum compensation on your behalf.
How Can a Premises Liability Lawyer Help?
Premises liability cases often require civil litigation to establish negligence and secure compensation for accident victims. An experienced Littleton premises liability lawyer can launch a prompt investigation into your case to gather evidence that shows the landowner knew about dangerous conditions on the property and failed to correct them. Lawyers can also communicate with insurance companies and advocate for their clients’ rights.
The experienced attorneys at Dulin McQuinn Young have an in-depth understanding of the legal issues involved in these cases and how injuries can affect victims for years to come. We can fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free case review.