Boulder Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

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Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys Serving Boulder, CO

Boulder slip and fall accident lawyer
Slip and fall accidents occur every day and can cause serious bodily injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of five falls causes a serious injury such as a broken bone or a head injury. These injuries can limit mobility, daily activities, and the ability to function without assistance. Brain injuries and spinal cord injuries can be especially traumatic and have life-long consequences. 

Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe conditions on their property. If you slip and fall on someone else’s improperly maintained property, you may have a slip and fall claim.

An experienced Boulder slip and fall lawyer can help you understand your options. The personal injury lawyers of Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. have decades of experience helping slip and fall victims and their families in Boulder and throughout Colorado. 

What is Premises Liability in Colorado

Slip and fall cases fall under the legal doctrine of premises liability and specifically Colorado’s Premises Liability Act C.R.S. 13-21-115 et. seq. Premises liability is an appropriate cause of action for injuries caused by an unsafe or defective property condition. 

In Colorado, a victim must prove that a property owner actually knew of, or in certain circumstances should have known of a hazardous condition on their property, and failed to remedy the condition. This duty depends on the relationship between the owner and the injured person. Business visitors, for example, are owed the highest duty of care, whereas trespassers are owed a minimal duty of care.

The injured person must also show that a breach of the property owner’s duty resulted in injury and that there is actual damage. A slip and fall accident lawyer in Boulder can help you determine the presence of each of the required elements of a premises liability claim.  

Types of Premises Liability Cases

There are many types of injuries and accidents that could fall under premises liability, including: 

  • Slips and falls
  • Inadequate lighting, 
  • Poorly maintained sidewalks, 
  • Negligent security, 
  • Dog or other animal attacks,
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Elevator accidents, 
  • Supermarket accidents, 
  • Wet floors, 
  • Snow and ice accidents, 
  • Defective stairways, 
  • Toxic fumes or chemicals,
  • Fire and safety code violations, 
  • Ceiling collapse, and 
  • Amusement park accidents.

This is not a complete list. There are plenty of other incidents that could fall under this umbrella.

Proving Fault in Slip and Fall Accidents

When it comes to proving fault for a slip and fall claim, there are several things to take into consideration. 

Was your accident caused by tripping or slipping on something that a reasonable person would expect to find there? Smooth surfaces can naturally become slightly uneven over time. Things like drainage grates may be inconvenient, but when installed properly, they can do more good than harm. Caution signs will not stop your fall, but they may reduce the property owner’s liability. 

It can be difficult to determine when someone is legally responsible for a slip and fall accident and whether the property owner was careless. A Boulder slip and fall lawyer is crucial for helping you collect evidence and prove liability.

Recover The Compensation You Deserve

Contact a Boulder slip and fall lawyer to ensure you receive full compensation for your injuries and damages.

Schedule A Free Consultation

Determination of Liability

Colorado law pertaining to actions against landowners asserts that for a property owner to be legally responsible for a slip and fall injury, one of the following must be true:

  • The owner of the premises or their employee knew about the dangerous condition and did not address the hazard;
  • The owner or an employee of the premises should have known about the hazardous condition because a reasonable person taking care of the property would have discovered and repaired it or disabled use of the hazardous area; or 
  • The owner or employee of the premises caused the hazard to exist. 

Liability often hinges on common sense. Terms like “reasonable” and “should have known” are subjective. Your slip and fall accident attorney can help gather facts for trial clearly demonstrating a lack of reason. If a settlement cannot be reached, a judge and jury will determine who was at fault. 

How are Slip and Fall Settlements Evaluated?

In pursuing a slip and fall settlement in Colorado, the first order of business is determining liability. Your legal team will investigate questions that will determine if you have a viable case against the property order, including whether you could have avoided the accident or were unnecessarily careless, whether the owner was in any way negligent, and whether the owner’s negligence directly contributed to your injuries.

Every case is different, but in general, slip and fall settlements are not the largest settlements secured for personal injury cases. Part of this is that the injuries sustained are typically minor and temporary, such as sprains, pulled muscles, or minor breaks.

Medical expenses for these injuries are fairly minor, so compensation will be adjusted accordingly. Severe, lifelong injuries with long-term expenses, such as head injuries, severe breaks, or torn ligaments, can warrant higher slip and fall settlements. Working with an experienced Boulder slip and fall lawyer can help you ensure slip and fall settlements secure compensation that suits the circumstances.

Who Can be Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident

If a property owner acted unreasonably in allowing the conditions that caused the accident, you may have a slip and fall claim. 

Many slip and fall accidents occur in stores or other businesses. Whom you file the lawsuit against depends on the circumstances of the accident. If something was structurally wrong with the building or permanent fixture on the property, your case will be against the landlord or property owner. 

If the accident occurred due to negligence of the business owner or an employee of the business, the claim will be against the store owner or the store itself, depending on its business structure. In certain circumstances, a contractor or management company may also be liable. 

Colorado Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations

Statutes of limitations are laws that impose a specific time limit on how long a person has to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations for a slip and fall claim in Colorado is set at two years from the date of the accident. It is important to file your claim as soon as possible to avoid loss of evidence and witnesses.

Contact a Boulder Slip and Fall Attorney

Proving fault in a slip and fall case takes skill and expertise. With more than 100 years of combined experience, the personal injury attorneys at Sloat, Nicholson and Hoover, P.C. have obtained more than one hundred million dollars in verdicts or settlements for clients in the Boulder area and throughout Colorado. We strive to provide compassionate and diligent representation to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us to schedule your free initial case consultation with a slip and fall accident lawyer.

CONTACT US

In all matters involving personal injury it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the accident in question, and file a lawsuit prior to the deadline imposed by the Statute of Limitations. If you or a loved one is a victim of personal injuries, call Sloat & Nicholson, P.C. now at 800-873-3202 or submit a simple Case Review Form. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a Contingent Fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don’t delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.

The above is not legal advice. That can only come from a qualified attorney who is familiar with all the facts and circumstances of a particular, specific case and the relevant law.