If you sustain injuries while visiting another person’s property, it may be possible to recover compensation for your losses through an insurance settlement or personal injury lawsuit. Below, slip and fall lawyer Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, PC, explores some common slip and fall accident topics to help you understand whether you may have a viable case.
Factors in a Colorado Slip and Fall Claim
In the state of Colorado, anyone who legally owns or controls a property is subject to certain requirements under the Colorado Premises Liability Act. Colorado property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for lawful visitors. They must provide appropriate warnings if any hazards or unsafe conditions do exist. If visitors become injured because a property owner failed to fulfill their legal duties, they may have the right to recover compensation for their losses through a slip and fall accident claim.
All viable slip and fall accident claims must establish these three key factors:
- Liability – A property owner is only considered liable for a slip and fall accident if they failed to uphold their legal duty of care and the injured person was not trespassing at the time the slip and fall occurred.
- Negligence – Slip and fall victims must demonstrate that a property owner was negligent in failing to remove or warn of a potential or neglected hazard.
- Cause – Injured parties must show that the hazardous conditions present on the property were the direct cause of their fall and any resulting injuries.
How Do I Know If I Have a Slip and Fall Accident Case?
One of the most important factors is whether you had a legal right to be on the property where you were injured. In most cases, property owners only owe you a duty of care if you are a lawful visitor.
If you received an express invitation from the owner, or if you’re a customer with an implied invitation to enter a business open to the public, you are considered a legal visitor. You are also considered a legal visitor if you were visiting the property for your own convenience or for your own benefit, such as asocial guest. Property owners do not owe the same duty of care to trespassers, except in certain cases involving trespassing children.
Types of Injuries from a Viable Slip and Fall Case
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 800,000 Americans are hospitalized each year because of slip and fall injuries. The most common injuries we see in the slip and fall cases we handle include:
- Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
- Broken arms and legs
- Pelvic fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
How Our Colorado Springs Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help You
When you choose Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, PC, our dedicated team will work hard to collect compelling evidence to establish and support a strong slip and fall claim on your behalf. I, Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, offer free initial consultations to all new clients and never charge any upfront or out-of-pocket fees. Contact us today for your free case review.
For 18 years, I have helped injury victims in Southern Colorado. I handle plaintiffs’ personal injury cases, such as slip and fall accidents and car crashes. My focus on civil litigation and personal injury works to my clients’ advantage, as there is a lot to know and a lot of subtleties in the law. Take slip and fall accidents, for example. There are different categories of how victims are classified when it comes to being hurt on someone else’s property. I know what facts are important and how to prove what is needed to be successful with your case.