Arapahoe County · Colorado premises liability law
Centennial Premises Liability Lawyers
If you were hurt on someone else's property in Centennial, free consultation, no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Colorado's Status-Based Duty of Care
Colorado does not treat every visitor the same way when something goes wrong on someone else's property. Under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, the duty a landowner owes depends on why the injured person was there in the first place. That status question often shapes the entire case, so it is one of the first things we look at when someone in Centennial calls us after a fall or other property-related injury.
If you were an invitee, like a customer at a retail store or business along Arapahoe Road or near University Boulevard, the landowner owed you reasonable care against dangers they actually knew about or should have known about. That is the broadest duty under the statute, and it is the one most shopping, dining, and commercial injury claims fall under. A licensee, such as a social guest at someone's home, is owed a narrower duty: the landowner must not unreasonably fail to use reasonable care for dangers they created and actually knew about, and must warn of unusual dangers they did not create but actually knew about. That is not the same inspection duty owed to a paying customer, and the difference matters when we evaluate what the property owner should have done.
A trespasser's recovery is limited to damages caused willfully or deliberately by the landowner. That does not mean every trespasser is automatically barred from recovery, but the standard is much higher. We do not assume a client's status without looking at the facts of why they were on the property, because that determination drives the rest of the claim.
Building the Record Under Colorado's Standard
Because the applicable duty depends on the injured person's status, we need facts that establish both why someone was on the property and what the landowner actually knew or should have known. That can include photographs of the condition that caused the injury, records of prior complaints or repairs, and statements from anyone who saw what happened. In a commercial setting near Greenwood Village or along the I-25 and E-470 corridors, business surveillance footage and maintenance logs can also matter.
We also gather medical records connecting the injury to the incident, since treatment at a facility like AdventHealth Littleton can help document the nature and timing of the harm. Witness accounts, incident reports, and any communication with the property owner or manager after the fall all help us show what the landowner knew and when. The sooner we start collecting this evidence, the less likely it is to disappear.
- Photos of the hazard and surrounding area
- Contact information for any witnesses
- Any incident report filed with the property owner or manager
- Medical records from treatment after the fall
- Clothing or footwear worn at the time, if relevant to the fall
Handling Premises Claims in Centennial
Centennial sits within Arapahoe County, and premises liability claims arising here are typically handled through the Arapahoe County Justice Center. We work with clients injured at businesses, apartment complexes, and other properties throughout the city, including areas near Arapahoe Road, University Boulevard, and the commercial corridors close to I-25 and E-470.
Our office is based in Denver, and we regularly represent people from Centennial and the surrounding Greenwood Village area. We know that proving a landowner's knowledge of a hazard often comes down to local details, like how a particular store or property has handled similar conditions before, and we build that into how we investigate each claim.
What You May Be Able to Recover
- Medical expenses related to the injury
- Lost income from time away from work
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical care, if needed
- Other out-of-pocket costs tied to the injury
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Centennial — 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.
Centennial 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. That status affects what the landowner had to do to keep you safe, so it is one of the first things we review in your case.
I was a guest at someone's home in Centennial, not a paying customer. Does that change my claim?
It can. A social guest is generally treated as a licensee, which carries a narrower duty than the one owed to a store customer. The landowner still has to avoid unreasonably failing to protect you from known dangers they created, or warn you of unusual dangers they knew about.
Can a trespasser ever recover for a property injury in Colorado?
It is possible, but the standard is much higher. Colorado law limits a trespasser's recovery to damages caused willfully or deliberately by the landowner, not ordinary carelessness.
What if the property owner says they didn't know about the hazard?
That is often the central dispute in these cases. We look for evidence showing the owner actually knew or should have known about the condition, such as prior complaints, maintenance records, or how long the hazard existed.
What should I do first after a fall on someone else's property in Centennial?
Document the scene if you can, get contact information for witnesses, and seek medical attention for your injuries. Then reach out to us for a free consultation so we can help you understand your status and options under Colorado law.
Discuss a Centennial premises injury
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