If you were injured in any type of accident that occurred due to property defects at a hotel, Airbnb, restaurant, school, grocery store, parking lot, or elsewhere, contact Hadfild Stieben & Doutt, LLC for a free case evaluation about your rights. Our experienced premises liability attorneys are here in Fort Collins to help you achieve justice for preventable property-related injuries.
Why Choose HSD Law for a Premises Liability Lawsuit?
- Our team understands Colorado’s premises liability laws and how to hold negligent property owners accountable for the full cost of our clients’ losses.
- Our case results include multimillion-dollar settlements and judgment awards for premises liability clients. We can take your case to court, if necessary, for a fair outcome.
- Many of our attorneys have backgrounds defending insurance companies. Now, we use their experience to advocate for clients against those same insurance carriers.
- We take premises liability clients in Fort Collins on a contingency fee basis, which means you’ll pay us $0 if your case doesn’t lead to financial compensation.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer After My Premises Accident in Fort Collins?
While the decision to hire a premises liability lawyer depends on the case, working with an attorney can come with several key benefits. You can have the peace of mind to focus on recovering from serious injuries while a lawyer you trust handles legal negotiations for you.
The work your Fort Collins slip and fall lawyer performs on your case can help you prove property owner negligence and maximize your case results. From investigating your accident and gathering evidence against a negligent property owner to seeking the maximum possible compensation in or out of a courtroom, an attorney can handle many important tasks while you heal.
A premises liability attorney will know how to navigate Colorado’s related premises liability laws and go up against insurance companies to optimize your case results. Your lawyer will also connect you to top doctors to make sure you have everything you need to heal during this difficult time.
What Is a Premises Liability Claim?
Premises liability is an area of law that deals with property defects and related visitor injuries. A premises liability claim describes an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit centered on holding a property owner accountable for the negligent control or maintenance of premises.
When you enter someone else’s property in Fort Collins, you have the right to expect it to be reasonably safe and free from hazards. Residential and commercial property owners alike must abide by Colorado’s property laws. Unfortunately, the reality is that many premises in Fort Collins are filled with injury risks.
A property owner who fails to take reasonable steps to maintain safe premises is negligent. What is “reasonable” depends on the factors involved, such as the classification of the visitor. If a landowner or controller’s negligence results in harm to a lawful visitor, the victim can file a claim in pursuit of financial compensation to be made whole again.
Invitees vs. Licensees vs. Trespassers in Fort Collins
There are three types of property visitors in Colorado, each of which is entitled to a different level of care by property owners:
- Invitee: afforded the highest legal protection. Anyone with express or implied permission to enter a property, such as customers at a business, is entitled to the highest standards of care. Property owners in Colorado must regularly inspect the property, fix dangerous conditions promptly and warn about hazards that may not be obvious.
- Licensee: afforded medium-level protection. Anyone with permission to be on a property who enters for his or her own purposes, such as a social host, is entitled to a slightly lesser standard of care than an invitee. Property owners do not have a responsibility to regularly inspect their properties, but must warn of non-obvious dangers.
- Trespasser: afforded little to no protection. Anyone who enters a property illegally, without lawful authority or the owner’s permission, owes the lowest standards of care. Property owners typically only have to maintain safe premises for child trespassers. Otherwise, they have a duty not to intentionally cause harm.
A property owner in Fort Collins could be held responsible for an accident on their premises if they breached their duty of care to the victim, and this resulted in the accident.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases in Colorado
At Hadfield Stieben Doutt, our grocery store slip and fall accident lawyers in Fort Collins are prepared to handle any type of premises-related accident case in Fort Collins, including:
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents
- Dog bite injuries
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Poor maintenance incidents
- Playground or school accidents
- Negligent security
- Collapsing structures
- Struck-by falling objects
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Explosions and building fires
We provide high-quality legal representation and litigation during even the most complex premises liability cases in Colorado.
Evidence to Collect for Your Premises Liability Case in Fort Collins
Premises liability claims in Colorado can encounter challenges, such as the victim being blamed for their own injuries or arguments that the hazard was obvious or the property owner had taken reasonable steps to ensure a safe premises. The evidence used to support your Fort Collins snow or ice slip and fall claim can make all the difference.
Take these steps to collect evidence, if possible:
- Report your accident to the authorities right away and get an incident report.
- Speak with witnesses and gather their information.
- Take pictures of the dangerous property condition or defect before it is remedied.
- Look around for cameras that may have recorded your accident.
- Keep the clothing and shoes you were wearing.
- Request copies of relevant property maintenance records.
- Get medical care immediately and keep copies of your health care records.
Bring all of your case information and evidence to a free case review at Hadfield Stieben & Doutt, LLC. We can step in to preserve and gather any evidence that may be key to your premises liability claim in Fort Collins.
Contact HSD Law for a Free Consultation With an Attorney
You may be eligible for financial compensation if you recently suffered an injury due to a dangerous or defective property in Fort Collins, Colorado. Let the attorneys at Hadfield Stieben Doutt determine if you have a valid premises liability claim during a free case consultation.
When you call (970) 221-2800, you will get to talk to an attorney from our firm about your case. If you cannot come to us due to your injuries, we can come to you at your home or hospital for a cost-free evaluation. Contact us today.