Were you injured on someone else’s property in Lakewood, CO? Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their property in reasonably safe condition. If you were hurt, you may have a valid premises liability case. An experienced Lakewood premises liability lawyer can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more.
At Matos Personal Injury Lawyers, we put over 44 years of experience in personal injury law behind every case–and we’ve won millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients like you over the years.
Put yourself in the strongest possible position to win your case. Contact our personal injury law firm in Lakewood, Colorado, at (720) 912 7274 to schedule a free consultation today.
NOTE: Our law firm does not handle premises liability cases. This article is for informational purposes only. Information found in the article does not constitute as formal legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship.
How Can Matos Personal Injury Lawyers Help After an Accident on Someone Else’s Property in Lakewood?
You’re already struggling with painful injuries. You shouldn’t have to deal with the insurance company’s red tape. Victims often feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the insurance process. They might be blaming you or claiming that you’re exaggerating your damages.
You can protect yourself by hiring an experienced Lakewood personal injury lawyer. Whether you slipped and fell, were bitten by a dog, or are suffering in the aftermath of serious food poisoning, Matos Personal Injury Lawyers is here to fight for you.
When you hire our legal team to represent you, we can:
- Determine what caused you to get hurt and how the injuries could have been avoided
- Collect evidence to support your personal injury claim
- Work with specialists who can prove various elements of your case
- Defend against “blame the victim” strategies
- Assess your losses and calculate your case value
- Handle the insurance negotiations to maximize your financial award
Our goal is to negotiate for the best possible insurance settlement in your case. If the settlement offers aren’t enough, our Lakewood personal injury attorneys are always prepared to fight for you at trial. We’re ready when you are, so call our law offices for a free case review today.
Overview of the Premises Liability Laws in Colorado
When you visit a store, restaurant, or entertainment venue, you aren’t as familiar with the property as the owner. You shouldn’t have to constantly worry about getting hurt. Premises liability laws exist to protect you when you do.
Colorado premises liability laws apply to all property owners. As long as you were legally on the property, the owner has a responsibility to maintain the property in a reasonably safe condition.
For example, you may have a case if you were injured while visiting:
- Rental apartment buildings
- Office buildings
- Colleges and universities
- Schools and daycare centers
- Shopping malls
- Grocery stores
- Big box stores
- Construction sites
- Hospitals and nursing homes
- Hotels and resorts
- Sports arenas
- Entertainment complexes
- Movie theaters
- Government buildings
However, premises liability laws only hold property owners financially responsible for injuries when they’re negligent.
You may have a valid premises liability case if:
- The owner knew (or reasonably should have known) about a dangerous condition
- They property owner failed to fix it or warn you about it
- You were injured as a result
If you have questions about your legal options after suffering an injury on someone else’s property, contact us today. Our Lakewood premises liability attorneys can give you more information in a free case review.
Our Attorneys in Lakewood Handle All Types of Premises Liability Claims
Slips, trips, and falls are an extremely common way to get hurt. Slip and fall injuries are by far the most common type of premises liability claim. However, they’re by no means the only way people get hurt when visiting other people’s property.
At Matos Personal Injury Lawyers, we often handle premises liability claims involving:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Assault and sexual assault caused by negligent security
- Bed bugs
- Elevator accidents
- Food poisoning
- Dog bites
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Swimming pool accidents
- Retail accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Accidents involving snow and ice
- Dangerous property conditions
- Staircase accidents
- Accidents involving ski lifts or equipment
Anytime you are injured on someone else’s property, you may deserve compensation. Our lawyers are here to help you hold a negligent property owner accountable.
How Much Is My Lakewood Premises Liability Case Worth?
The value of your claim will depend on the specific details of your case.
When assessing your case value, our attorneys will consider:
- The severity of your injuries
- Whether you are expected to make a full physical recovery
- Your bills for medical treatment, rehabilitation, and therapies
- Whether you will need ongoing medical care or suffer a long-term disability
- Whether you are able to work and earn the same amount that you did prior to the injury
- How the trauma of the injury has impacted your emotional wellbeing and quality of life
- Whether you share any responsibility for getting hurt
Our team at Matos Personal Injury Lawyers will analyze your case from every angle. We’ll even bring in experts and specialists whose opinions can help us understand your injuries more fully. That way, we can make sure we have the information to help you receive the maximum compensation you deserve.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims in a Successful Premises Liability Case?
If you were injured because a business or property owner was negligent, you can recover compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages. The exact damages you receive will depend on the nature of your losses.
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental trauma
- Anxiety and depression
- PTSD
- Humiliation
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
If there is evidence that your injuries were intentionally inflicted or the property owner displayed a reckless disregard for your safety, you may also be entitled to seek punitive damages.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for My Own Injuries in Colorado?
Colorado comparative negligence laws limit the amount of compensation you can recover if you were partly responsible for getting hurt.
Under Colorado law, you can keep partial of your damages if you were less than 50% responsible for your injuries. Once your share of fault reaches 50%, you lose your right to sue for damages.
Property owners and insurance companies often try to blame victims for getting hurt. If you shoulder the blame, you’ll also take a financial hit.
Our lawyers in Lakewood are prepared to stand up and help you fight unfair allegations. We’ll force the insurance company to show strong proof to back up their accusations–which is often enough to convince them to back down.
Our Lakewood Premises Liability Attorneys Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
Almost any injury has the potential to cause lasting consequences and change your life.
At Matos Personal Injury Lawyers, we often handle personal injury cases involving:
- Broken bones
- Broken hips and other joint injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Nerve injuries
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage caused by toxic exposure
- Crushing injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Property owners often fix hazards once someone gets hurt. If you were injured, seek legal advice sooner rather than later. You’ll get the best possible outcome when your lawyer can start gathering evidence quickly after an injury.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation Under Colorado Premise Liability Laws?
You’ll have to prove negligence just like any car accident victim.
The four basic elements of negligence are:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
However, there’s a twist in premises liability cases. The scope of the owner’s legal duty of care depends on why you were visiting the property.
Owners of property that’s generally open to the public, like a business, have a heightened duty of care. Whenever you visit a grocery store, restaurant, or ballpark, you’re classified as a business invitee.
Business owners must:
- Conduct regular property inspections to identify hazardous conditions
- Fix any dangerous property condition in a reasonable amount of time
- Adequately warn visitors if the danger can’t be fixed immediately
When you’re visiting a friend’s house, their duties are more limited. They only have to warn you about non-obvious hazards. Property owners don’t have a duty to keep trespassers safe–unless the trespasser is a young child who was attracted by an “attractive nuisance,” like a swimming pool.
How Long Do I Have To File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Colorado?
You have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. Once the two-year statute of limitations expires, you cannot pursue compensation for your injuries in court.
However, there are exceptions to Colorado’s statute of limitations in some circumstances. It’s best to contact us as soon as you can after your accident to protect your right to file a lawsuit for compensation.
Contact an Experienced Lakewood Premises Liability Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Call Matos Personal Injury Lawyers if you were injured on someone else’s property in Lakewood. An experienced Lakewood premises liability lawyer can help you get the best possible results. Even better, your legal consultation is completely free of charge.