Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties · Apartment and common-area injuries
Aurora Apartment Premises Lawyers
If you were hurt in a stairwell, parking lot, or entryway at an Aurora apartment complex, free consultation and no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Who Is Responsible for Common-Area Injuries
Apartment complexes have areas tenants share and areas landlords are supposed to maintain: stairs, walkways, entries, parking areas, and lighting. When a landlord possesses or is responsible for these spaces, the landlord can be treated as a landowner under Colorado's premises liability law for conditions there. That distinction matters because it opens the door to a premises claim against the property owner or management company, not just the tenant who lives in the unit.
We do not assume a landlord is liable for every hazard a tenant reports. If the dangerous condition existed inside a leased unit and the landlord had no control over it, that is a different analysis than a broken stair rail in a common hallway or ice that built up in a shared parking lot. Control over the area and the condition is central to whether a landlord owes a duty and whether that duty was breached.
Colorado's premises statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, still applies to common-area injuries. Your status as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser affects what the landlord owed you at the time you were hurt, even in a shared stairwell or parking lot. We look at how you were using the property and your relationship to the landlord or the tenant who invited you before we evaluate the strength of a claim.
Building Evidence in a Common-Area Case
Common areas change quickly. Property management may clear ice, replace a light fixture, or patch a broken stair tread within days of an incident, sometimes before an injured tenant has even been contacted. We move to identify the specific area involved, request maintenance and complaint records, and try to preserve photographs or video before the condition is fixed or footage is overwritten.
Because these buildings often have property managers, maintenance staff, and sometimes third-party contractors, more than one party may share responsibility. We look at maintenance logs, work orders, prior tenant complaints about the same stairway or lighting issue, and any snow and ice removal contracts to understand who knew about the hazard and who was supposed to fix it.
- Photograph the exact stairs, railing, walkway, or lot where you fell
- Note the date, time, and weather conditions if ice or snow was involved
- Report the incident in writing to the property manager or landlord
- Get contact information for any neighbors or witnesses nearby
- Keep copies of any prior complaints you or others made about the same area
Handling Claims Across the Aurora Area
Aurora spans Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties, and apartment complexes are spread throughout the corridors along I-225, E-470, and Parker Road, as well as denser rental housing near East Colfax Avenue and out toward Centennial. Where your complex sits determines which county court will handle a filed claim, and we sort that out early so there's no confusion about venue.
Depending on where the property is located, your case may be filed at the Arapahoe County Justice Center or in the courthouse for the county where the injury actually occurred. We're based in Denver and regularly handle premises claims arising from Aurora apartment communities, including cases involving injuries treated at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus.
Damages We Pursue in Apartment Injury Claims
- Medical bills for treatment of the fall or injury
- Future medical care if the injury requires ongoing treatment
- Lost income if you missed work while recovering
- Pain and suffering related to the injury
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to the incident
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Aurora — and read client testimonials.
After I was hit by a drunk driver with no insurance, my own insurer refused UM benefits. McCormick & Murphy sued for uninsured motorist benefits and bad faith. A jury awarded me over $900,000.
C. O., Denver · UM / bad-faith verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Aurora Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
Can I sue my landlord if I fell inside my own apartment unit?
It depends on who controlled the condition that caused your fall. If the hazard was something the landlord was responsible for maintaining, such as a plumbing or structural issue reported and not fixed, there may be a claim. If it was something entirely within the tenant's control, the analysis is different, and we'd need to look at the specific facts.
What counts as a common area in an Aurora apartment complex?
Common areas typically include stairwells, hallways, entryways, parking lots, and shared walkways that the landlord or property management possesses or is responsible for maintaining. These are distinguished from the interior of a tenant's own leased unit.
Does it matter if I was visiting a friend's apartment rather than living there?
Yes. Your status as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser under Colorado's premises statute affects what duty the landlord owed you, and that status can depend on why you were on the property and who invited you.
Who is responsible for snow and ice in a shared parking lot?
That depends on who possessed or was responsible for that area, which is often the landlord or a management company, sometimes through a snow removal contractor. We look at maintenance records and any service contracts to determine who had that responsibility.
Which court would handle my Aurora apartment injury claim?
Aurora sits across Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties, so venue depends on where your complex is located. A claim might be filed at the Arapahoe County Justice Center or in the courthouse for the county where the injury occurred.
Discuss a Aurora premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.