Injured on Someone Else's Property? You May Have a Claim.

When a property owner's negligence causes your injury, Colorado law holds them accountable — but only if you act quickly and have an attorney who knows how to build the case. At The Fields Group, we represent premises liability victims throughout Jefferson County and the surrounding foothills communities, and we take every case on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you.

What Premises Liability Law Actually Covers

Premises liability is the area of Colorado law that governs injuries caused by unsafe or poorly maintained property. Property owners — whether they own a grocery store, a private residence, a commercial building, or a public space — have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail that duty and someone is hurt, the injured person has the right to pursue compensation.

 

Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13-21-115, creates specific categories of visitors and assigns different legal duties to each. The facts of how you came to be on the property matter significantly to your case, which is one reason having an experienced premises liability attorney in Jefferson County review your situation early is so important.

Common Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle

Property hazards take many forms. We represent clients injured in a wide range of premises liability situations, including:

 

  • Slip and fall accidents on wet, icy, or uneven surfaces
  • Trip and fall injuries caused by broken flooring, unmarked steps, or loose carpeting
  • Inadequate lighting in parking lots, stairwells, or common areas
  • Swimming pool accidents and drownings
  • Dog bites and animal attacks on another person's property
  • Negligent security leading to assault or violent crime
  • Falling objects or collapsing structures
  • Toxic exposure or hazardous conditions on commercial or residential property
  • Construction site hazards open to the public

 

If your injury happened on property someone else owned, maintained, or controlled, a claim may be available to you regardless of whether the location was a business, a neighbor's home, or a public facility.

How Colorado Law Determines Who Is Responsible

Colorado's premises liability statute distinguishes between three types of visitors: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. The duty a property owner owes you depends on which category applies.

 

Invitees — people invited onto property for a business purpose or as members of the public — receive the highest level of protection. The property owner must use reasonable care to inspect the property and either fix known hazards or warn visitors about them. Licensees, who enter with the owner's permission for their own purposes, are owed a duty to warn of known dangers. Trespassers receive limited protections, though landowners may not willfully or deliberately cause them harm.

 

In practice, establishing liability requires proving that the owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition, had a reasonable opportunity to address it, and failed to do so. That proof comes from incident reports, surveillance footage, maintenance records, witness statements, and expert testimony — the kind of evidence that must be gathered quickly before it disappears.

What Your Premises Liability Case May Be Worth

A successful premises liability claim can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and permanent disability or disfigurement. The value of any individual case depends on the severity of the injury, the strength of the liability evidence, the insurance coverage available, and how aggressively the case is pursued.

 

Insurance carriers representing property owners are experienced at minimizing payouts. They move quickly after an incident to investigate in their own interest, and they often contact injured parties before those individuals have spoken with an attorney. Speaking with us before you speak with an insurance adjuster can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.

Why Foothills Residents Choose The Fields Group

We are based in Conifer, not downtown Denver. Our office is on Kings Valley Drive — minutes from the communities we serve in Jefferson County, Evergreen, Golden, Bailey, and beyond. That proximity matters: we are genuinely local attorneys who understand the terrain, the courts, and the communities our clients come from.

 

Doug Fields has been trying cases in Colorado for 36 years. When premises liability cases require going to trial, we go. We are not a settlement mill that pushes cases to a quick close because it is easier. If a property owner's insurer is not offering fair compensation, we are prepared to take the matter before a jury — including in the Jefferson County Courthouse, where Doug has tried cases throughout his career.

 

Every premises liability case we accept is handled on a contingency fee basis. We advance all litigation expenses on your behalf. If we do not recover, you owe us nothing.

Two overlapping speech bubbles with a question mark inside the front bubble

Common FAQs

Premises Liability Questions Answered

  • What is premises liability under Colorado law?

    Premises liability is the legal framework that holds property owners responsible for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their property. Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13-21-115, defines the duty of care owed to different categories of visitors. If you were injured on property someone else owned or controlled, you may have a claim regardless of whether it was a business or a private residence.

  • How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Colorado?

    Colorado's statute of limitations for premises liability claims is generally two years from the date of injury. Claims against government entities — such as a municipality that owns a public building or park — require a formal notice of claim within 182 days of the incident. Missing either deadline can permanently bar your right to recover, which is why contacting an attorney promptly matters.

  • What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

    Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover damages as long as you are found to be less than 50 percent at fault for the accident. Your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance carriers frequently argue that injured parties share responsibility in order to reduce what they owe — an experienced attorney can counter those arguments with evidence.

  • Do I need to prove the property owner knew about the hazard?

    For most premises liability claims, you must show that the property owner knew about the dangerous condition or that it existed long enough that they reasonably should have discovered it. Evidence such as maintenance logs, prior incident reports, and surveillance footage can establish that a hazard was known or longstanding. This is one of the most important areas where legal representation makes a difference in the outcome.

  • What if I was injured at a neighbor's home or a private residence?

    Homeowners typically carry liability insurance that covers injuries to guests and visitors. A private residence is not exempt from premises liability law. If you were hurt at someone's home because of a condition the homeowner knew about and failed to address — an icy walkway, a broken step, an unrestrained dog — you may have a valid claim against their homeowner's policy.

  • How much does it cost to hire a premises liability attorney?

    We handle all personal injury cases, including premises liability, on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney's fees upfront and owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you. We also advance all case expenses on your behalf. The contingency model means our interests are fully aligned with yours — we are motivated to maximize your recovery.