Boulder County · Apartment and common-area injuries
Boulder Apartment Premises Lawyers
If you were hurt on stairs, in a parking area, or a walkway at a Boulder apartment, we can help. Free consultation.
Apartment Common-Area Claims in Boulder
Under Colorado's premises liability law, a landlord can be treated as a landowner for the parts of a property the landlord actually possesses or is responsible for maintaining. That typically includes stairwells, entryways, lobbies, parking areas, and shared walkways. If a broken handrail, an unlit stairwell, or an icy walkway in one of these common areas caused your fall, the landlord may be legally responsible.
That does not mean a landlord is automatically liable for every hazard inside a tenant's own apartment. Control matters. If a condition existed solely inside a leased unit and the tenant controlled that space, the analysis is different than a hazard in a hallway or parking lot that the landlord maintains for everyone's use. We look closely at who actually controlled the area and condition that caused the injury.
Your legal status on the property still matters under Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, even when the injury happens in a common area rather than inside a unit. Whether you were a tenant, a guest, or someone else visiting the property can affect the duty the landlord owed you. We evaluate that status early so we can build the right claim from the start.
Building the Case at Your Apartment Complex
Common-area conditions change quickly. Ice gets salted or melts, a burned-out light gets replaced, and a loose railing can get tightened or removed once someone reports it. We move fast to document the stairs, entry, parking area, or walkway as it existed at the time of your fall, including photos, measurements, and lighting conditions where possible.
We also look at who was responsible for maintaining that specific area. Maintenance logs, work orders, prior complaints from other tenants, and communications with the property management company can all show whether the landlord knew about the hazard and failed to fix it. Witness accounts from neighbors or other residents who saw the condition before your injury can also matter.
- Photos of the stairs, railing, walkway, or parking area, including any ice, debris, or broken fixtures
- The name and contact information of the property manager or landlord
- Any prior complaints you or neighbors made about the same condition
- Names of witnesses, including other tenants who saw the hazard
- Records of medical care you received after the fall
Handling Claims Near Boulder Apartment Communities
We handle premises cases involving apartment complexes throughout Boulder, including properties near U.S. Highway 36, Foothills Parkway, Arapahoe Avenue, Broadway, and out toward Louisville. Many of these communities have shared stairwells, covered parking, and walkways that see heavy foot traffic and Colorado's seasonal ice and snow. Those common areas are exactly where landlord responsibility for maintenance and warning of hazards comes into play.
If your injury required medical treatment, records from providers such as Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital can help document what happened and connect your injuries to the fall. A case filed in Boulder County would proceed through the Boulder County Justice Center, and we prepare every common-area claim with that process in mind from the start.
What You May Recover
- Medical expenses related to the fall
- Lost income if you missed work while recovering
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical care if your injury requires ongoing treatment
- Other 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 Boulder — 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.
Boulder Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
I fell on the stairs outside my apartment. Can I sue my landlord?
Possibly. Landlords can be responsible for common areas like stairwells, entries, and parking areas that they possess or maintain for tenants. We would look at who controlled that stairwell and whether the landlord knew or should have known about the hazard.
Does it matter if I'm a tenant versus a visitor?
Yes. Your status on the property affects the duty the landlord owed you under Colorado's premises liability statute, even in a shared area. We evaluate your status as part of building the claim.
What if the hazard was inside my own apartment, not a common area?
That is a different analysis. Landlords are not automatically responsible for every condition inside a tenant's leased unit, and control over that specific space matters. We would need to look at who was responsible for the condition that caused your injury.
What evidence helps in a Boulder apartment fall case?
Photos of the area, maintenance records, prior tenant complaints about the same hazard, and witness statements from neighbors all help. Moving quickly matters because landlords often repair or clean up hazards soon after an incident.
Do you charge anything to review my case?
No. We offer a free consultation, and we only get paid if we recover money for you.
Discuss a Boulder premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.