Colorado’s Premises Liability Act, C.R.S. § 13-21-115, sets the legal duty a property owner owes to anyone injured on their property. Enacted in 1986, it ties how much you can recover to your legal status on the property at the time you were hurt: invitee, licensee, or trespasser, each owed a different level of care.
Why status is the first question in every case
Before anything else, a premises case has to establish which of the three categories the injured person falls into, because that answer determines what the property owner actually had to do to avoid liability. Get the status wrong and the whole legal theory of the case falls apart.
What to do next
If this is where you are right now, call Mile High Legal at (720) 853-5779 for a free consultation. We handle Colorado injury claims on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront and nothing at all unless we recover money for you.
Quick Answers
What must be proven in a Colorado slip and fall case?
You generally need to show that a dangerous condition existed on the property, that your status (invitee, licensee, or trespasser) entitled you to a certain level of care, that the owner failed to meet that standard, whether by knowing about the hazard, should have known about it, or creating it, and that the hazard actually caused your fall and your injuries.
What to do after a slip and fall accident in Colorado
Report the fall to the property owner or manager immediately and ask for an incident report. Photograph the hazard, wet floor, uneven pavement, poor lighting, before it gets cleaned up or fixed, and get contact information from anyone who saw it happen. Get medical attention even if you feel okay at first, and avoid giving a recorded statement to the property’s insurer before understanding your rights.
How to file a slip and fall claim in Colorado
Start by documenting the hazard and your injuries thoroughly, then notify the property owner or their insurer of the claim. From there, it typically moves through the same phases as any injury claim: treatment, demand, negotiation, and if necessary, a lawsuit filed within Colorado’s statute of limitations for premises cases.
