Boulder County · Colorado premises liability law
Boulder Premises Liability Lawyers
Injured on someone else's property in Boulder? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
How Colorado Classifies Your Status on the Property
Colorado premises liability claims turn on why you were on the property when you got hurt. Under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, the landowner's legal duty changes depending on whether you were an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser. This classification often decides the case before the facts of the fall or injury are even argued, so getting it right matters from the start.
If you were an invitee, meaning you were there for a reason connected to the landowner's business, such as shopping at a store or visiting a Boulder restaurant, the landowner owes you reasonable care against dangers it actually knew about or should have known about through reasonable inspection. That is the broadest duty under the statute, but it is not automatic. Not every person on a property qualifies as an invitee, and we look closely at the purpose of your visit before assuming that status applies.
If you were a licensee, such as a social guest at a private home or gathering, the duty is narrower. The landowner must use reasonable care to warn or protect you from dangers it created and actually knew about, and it must warn of unusual dangers it did not create but actually knew about. That is a different, more limited standard than what a store owes a paying customer, and we do not treat the two as interchangeable when we build a claim.
Building the Case Around Actual Knowledge
Because Colorado law asks what the landowner actually knew or should have known, evidence about notice is central. That can include maintenance records, prior complaints, inspection logs, photos of the condition, and witness statements about how long a hazard existed. We work to gather this evidence quickly, before it is repaired, discarded, or forgotten.
For trespasser cases, the duty is different still. Colorado law limits recovery to injuries the landowner willfully or deliberately caused. We do not assume every trespasser claim is barred, and we look at the specific facts to determine whether that narrow standard can be met.
- Photograph the exact condition that caused your injury before it changes
- Identify why you were on the property and get contact information for any witnesses
- Report the incident to the property owner, manager, or occupant in writing if possible
- Seek medical evaluation and keep records connecting your injury to the incident
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurer before speaking with us
Handling Premises Cases Across Boulder
We handle premises liability claims arising anywhere in Boulder, from businesses along Broadway and Arapahoe Avenue to properties near Foothills Parkway, U.S. Highway 36, and Louisville. Whether the injury happened at a retail store, a rental property, or a private residence, we start by identifying your legal status on the property, since that shapes the entire claim under Colorado law.
If your case requires medical documentation, we coordinate with providers connected to your treatment, including facilities like Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital. If litigation becomes necessary, Boulder County claims are handled through the Boulder County Justice Center. Our office is based in Denver, and we regularly represent injured clients throughout Boulder and Boulder County.
Damages We Evaluate in Premises Cases
- Medical treatment related to the injury
- Ongoing or future care needs
- Lost income from time away from work
- Pain and physical limitations from the injury
- Property damage connected to the incident, if applicable
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 Colorado premises liability law FAQ
Does it matter why I was on the property when I got hurt?
Yes. Colorado law bases the landowner's duty on whether you were an invitee, licensee, or trespasser. Each category carries a different legal standard, so your purpose for being there is one of the first things we evaluate.
What if I was a social guest rather than a customer?
As a licensee, you are owed a narrower duty than a customer. The landowner must use reasonable care for dangers it created and actually knew about, and must warn of unusual dangers it knew about but did not create.
Can a trespasser ever recover damages in Colorado?
It is possible, but the standard is narrow. A trespasser may only recover for harm the landowner willfully or deliberately caused, not for ordinary negligence.
What evidence helps prove the landowner knew about the hazard?
Maintenance logs, prior complaints, inspection records, photos, and witness accounts of how long the condition existed can all help show actual or constructive knowledge. We move quickly to preserve this evidence after an incident.
Do you handle premises cases throughout Boulder County?
Yes. We represent injured people across Boulder, including areas near Broadway, Arapahoe Avenue, Foothills Parkway, and Louisville, and we are familiar with proceedings at the Boulder County Justice Center.
Discuss a Boulder premises injury
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