Adams County · Apartment and common-area injuries
Commerce City Apartment Premises Lawyers
If you were hurt in a Commerce City apartment common area, we can help. Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Who Is Responsible for a Common-Area Fall
Apartment complexes are made up of two kinds of space: the unit a tenant leases and the common areas the landlord keeps control over, like stairwells, walkways, entries, parking lots, and shared lighting. When someone gets hurt in one of those shared spaces, the landlord can be treated as the landowner responsible for the condition, because the landlord is the one who possesses and maintains it, not the tenant.
That does not mean a landlord answers for every hazard on the property. If the dangerous condition was inside a tenant's own unit and under that tenant's control, the analysis is different, and we look closely at who actually had responsibility for maintaining the specific area where the injury happened. Common stairs with a broken railing are not the same as a loose board inside someone's kitchen.
Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, still applies to common-area injuries, and the injured person's legal status on the property affects what has to be proven. We evaluate that status early, along with who controlled the stairs, entry, parking area, or walkway where the fall or injury occurred, before we can tell a client how strong the claim is.
Documenting a Common-Area Hazard
Common-area cases often come down to proving the landlord knew, or should have known, about the hazard and controlled the space where it existed. Photos of the stairs, railing, ice patch, or lighting condition taken close to the time of the injury matter, along with any prior complaints other tenants made about the same area. Maintenance records, work orders, and communications with the property manager can show whether the landlord had notice of the problem.
We also gather information about who was responsible for upkeep of that particular area, since apartment complexes sometimes use outside contractors for snow removal, landscaping, or repairs. If treatment was needed after the fall, records from a provider such as Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital help connect the injury to the specific condition and location where it happened.
- Photograph the stairs, railing, walkway, or lighting condition before it gets fixed
- Report the incident to the property manager or landlord in writing
- Get contact information for any witnesses nearby
- Keep records of any prior complaints you or neighbors made about the same hazard
- Follow up with medical care and keep those records
Handling Apartment Claims Near Commerce City
Commerce City has a mix of newer and older apartment complexes near 104th Avenue, U.S. Highway 85, and the I-76 corridor, and many tenants also live in complexes just over the line in Brighton or Thornton. Property management practices vary a lot between complexes, and so does how well common areas are maintained through the winter months and after storms.
Claims tied to Commerce City properties can end up filed at the Adams County Justice Center. We work with clients from our Denver office and handle the local court appearances and communication with property management companies so clients can focus on recovering.
What Damages May Be Available
- Medical bills related to the fall or injury
- Future medical care if needed
- Lost wages during recovery
- Pain and suffering
- 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 Commerce City — 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.
Commerce City Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
Can I sue my landlord if I fell on the apartment stairs?
Possibly, if the stairs are a common area the landlord controls and maintains. We look at who was responsible for that specific area and whether the landlord knew or should have known about the hazard before deciding how strong a claim is.
What if I fell inside my own apartment, not in a common area?
That is a different situation, since the tenant generally controls the inside of their own unit. Whether the landlord is responsible depends on who had control over the specific condition that caused the fall.
Does it matter why I was on the property when I got hurt?
Yes. Colorado's premises liability law looks at the injured person's status on the property, and that status affects what has to be shown to hold the landlord responsible, even in a common area.
What if other tenants had complained about the same hazard before?
Prior complaints can help show the landlord had notice of the problem. We try to gather that information from neighbors, maintenance records, and communications with property management.
Do I need to go to the hospital before I can bring a claim?
Getting medical care is important both for your health and for documenting the injury. Records from a provider like Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital can help connect the injury to the condition that caused it.
Discuss a Commerce City premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.