Colorado Premises Liability Attorney
Property owners in Colorado Springs have a duty to provide visitors with safe conditions. When property owners are aware of hazards and fail to do something about them, they can be held liable for any injuries those hazardous conditions cause. Premises liability is the area of law that deals with injuries that occur on the property of another person.
Lawyer Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, a Colorado Springs premises liability attorney, knows how to help injured persons get full and fair compensation.
I am ready to fight for the compensation you need to get back on your feet. If you were hurt on someone else’s property, you should not be stuck with medical bills and other expenses. My law firm can help you hold the property owner accountable.
If you have been seriously injured in an accident that was caused by dangerous conditions on someone’s property in Colorado Springs, call attorney Jeffrey Scott Lasswell today. I will schedule a free initial consultation to explore your case.
What Do You Have to Prove in a Premises Liability Case?
In order to win a premises liability case, your attorney will have to prove the following:
- There was a condition on the premises that posed an unreasonable risk of harm.
- The property owner knew or should have known the dangerous condition existed.
- The property owner was negligent in creating the dangerous condition or was negligent in failing to fix or warn about the harmful condition.
- You suffered an injury as a result of the harmful condition.
How Can a Colorado Springs Premises Liability Attorney Help?
As a Colorado Springs premises liability lawyer, here’s what I can do for you:
- Investigate your claim. As an experienced premises liability attorney, I will thoroughly investigate your accident. This may include obtaining copies of your accident report, photos of the accident, medical bills, pay stubs and surveillance footage. As your lawyer I may view the accident scene or hire an accident reconstruction expert to do so. Thoroughly investigating your claim and gathering evidence is critical to proving the property owner’s negligence and the amount of your damages.
- Interview witnesses. As your lawyer I can interview witnesses and obtain their statements soon after your accident. If this is not done promptly, witnesses’ memories of the accident could fade over time.
- Identify all liable parties. More parties than just the property owner could be held responsible for compensating you. When I identify all the potentially liable parties, it greatly increases the chances that you will receive a full and fair settlement.
- Value your claim. As a premises liability lawyer, I know what your claim is worth based on the facts and circumstances of your accident.
- Negotiate your settlement. I will anticipate the insurance adjuster’s arguments that attempt to deny or reduce your claim. I know strategies to overcome these tactics.
- File a lawsuit. If it is impossible to fairly resolve a claim through settlement negotiations, as your attorney I will file a lawsuit for you and take your case to trial. I will do everything I can to make sure you get the maximum compensation you deserve.
Types of Premises Liability Cases and Accidents
As a property injury lawyer, I handle a wide range of premises liability cases where a person is injured. Those cases include:
- Slip and falls
- Trip and falls
- Sidewalk accidents
- Accidents on snow and ice
- Inadequate maintenance
- Negligent security
- Defective conditions
- Dog bites
- Swimming pool accidents
- Hotel negligence
- Stairway, elevator or escalator accidents
Get Started with your CaseCall Us at (719) 635-1245
Damages in a Premises Liability Claim
The compensation you receive in a settlement will depend on the circumstances of your case. I will consider how severe your injuries are and whether you were partially at fault for the accident. The types of damages awarded in a premises liability case include:
- Medical expenses – You are entitled to be reimbursed for your medical bills, physical therapy, rehabilitation, prescription drugs, and other treatments you need because of your injuries. You want to be certain that your medical care is complete or you receive a final prognosis from your doctor so that all future expenses are included in your settlement.
- Lost wages – This includes both past and future wages that you will lose while you recover from your injuries. You will want to be repaid as well for any bonuses, benefits, commissions, and promotions you lost. If you have to change careers due to your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for lost earning capacity if the new job pays less than your old one.
- Pain and suffering – These damages can be hard to calculate because they are not based on out-of-pocket expenses. As an experienced attorney, I will help you set a fair value for this portion of your claim.
- Loss of consortium – If you are married, your spouse may be entitled to damages for the loss of companionship as a result of your injuries.
- Wrongful death – In tragic premises liability cases where the victim dies, the victim’s dependents can file a wrongful death action. Compensation in wrongful death claims may include funeral and burial expenses, medical bills, lost wages and loss of companionship.
- Punitive damages – The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the negligent party. In rare cases, punitive damages are awarded when the negligent party’s actions are especially egregious.
Colorado Statute of Limitations on Premises Liability
If you have suffered an injury while on another person’s property in Colorado, it is critical that you contact me, an experienced Colorado premises liability attorney, as soon as possible. Under Colorado law, you have two years to pursue legal action against the individual who is responsible for your injuries.
This two-year time limit is known as a statute of limitations. You are barred from filing a claim after the period has passed. Contact me immediately to ensure your claim for injuries is not barred.
Get Started with your CaseCall Us at (719) 635-1245
Premises Liability Frequently Asked Questions
Below are commonly asked questions I get about premises liability cases. If you have other questions about your particular case, do not hesitate to contact me today.
Premises Liability
What is premises liability?
Premises liability encompasses all injuries that happen on someone’s property due to the property owner’s negligence. Every property owner has a duty of care to others. This means they should take steps that a reasonable person would take to prevent injuries. When property owners do not take these steps, they can be held accountable for the resulting injuries and damages.
What are the steps in a premises liability lawsuit?
To strengthen your premises liability case, take these steps after your accident:
- Seek medical attention.
- Report the accident to the property owner or property manager (if applicable).
- Take photos of the accident scene as well as your injuries.
- Talk to witnesses and collect any relevant information they may have.
- Take notes and include all the details you remember.
- Contact me as your experienced premises liability attorney.
Here is how a premises liability case develops after you hire me as your attorney:
- Investigation – The first steps I will take in your premises liability case is to investigate your accident and obtain evidence that proves the other party’s negligence. I will also collect your medical records, medical bills, wage loss documentation, and other proof of your damages. This helps me determine the strength of your claim and how much your case is worth.
- Maximum medical improvement – The maximum medical improvement is the stage in your treatment where you have recovered as much as possible. Before moving forward with a settlement of your claim, you need to reach this stage. That will let you know what future medical damages you will incur. Those damages should be included in your settlement.
- Demand package – As your lawyer, I will send a demand package to the insurance adjuster. The demand package will detail your injuries, the other party’s negligence, your medical care and the amount of damages you are entitled to. I will then negotiate with the other side to settle your claim without the need for litigation.
- Litigation – If I am unable to settle your claim, I will take your case to trial, where a judge or jury can rule in your favor.
How long does a lawsuit take?
Even if you retain legal counsel soon after your accident, it does not mean your claim will be settled quickly. It could take months or even years before you reach a settlement. A wide range of factors can influence the speed at which your premises liability claim is resolved. Those factors include disputes over liability, your medical prognosis, and the length of negotiations.
As your lawyer, I will have an estimate on how long it will take to settle your claim. Keep in mind that it is merely a guideline. It is good not to rush through these complicated cases. But as a skilled attorney on injury cases, I will use my experience to make sure you receive the compensation that you deserve.
What if the property owner says the accident was my fault?
If you are injured in an accident on someone’s property, the property owner may argue that you are at least partially responsible for your injuries. Colorado’s modified comparative fault rule comes into play. This rule adjusts the damages you receive based on your percentage of fault.
Suppose your total damages are $100,000, and you are 25% at fault for the accident. Under the comparative fault rule, you can recover $75,000 of the damages. If the jury finds that your level of fault is greater than 50%, you will not receive anything. The rationale: a person should not be able to recover damages if they were mostly responsible for their own injuries.
How much does a lawyer charge for a premises liability case?
If you were injured in a premises liability accident, you may worry that you cannot afford to hire an attorney. The good news is that I and most lawyers handle cases on a contingency-fee basis. In this arrangement, you do not owe any attorney’s fees upfront. You will owe fees only if I reach a fair settlement in your case or win at trial.
Talk to a Premises Liability Lawyer in Colorado Springs Now
I know how to investigate your premises liability case and determine whether you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. For years, I have successfully represented clients who have been injured due to dangerous conditions on someone else’s property.
I can help you. If you have been injured in an accident that was the result of unsafe conditions on someone’s property, call me today.