Arapahoe County · Apartment and common-area injuries
Englewood Apartment Premises Lawyers
Injured on stairs, ice, or a broken railing at an Englewood apartment? Free consultation, no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Apartment Common-Area Claims in Englewood
When you're hurt in a common area of an Englewood apartment complex, the landlord can be treated as a landowner for the parts of the property the landlord actually possesses or is responsible for maintaining. That typically includes stairwells, entryways, breezeways, shared parking areas, and walkways connecting buildings. If a landlord controls the space, the landlord can bear responsibility for hazards there.
That's different from what happens inside a tenant's own unit. We don't assume a landlord is liable for every hazard behind a tenant's door. Control matters. If the landlord had no right or responsibility to maintain the condition that hurt you, that changes the analysis, and we look closely at lease terms and maintenance practices to sort out who was responsible for what.
Your status under Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, still applies even in a common area. Whether you were there as an invitee, licensee, or otherwise affects what duty the landlord owed you. We evaluate that status early because it shapes the whole claim.
Building What We Need to Prove Control and Notice
In apartment cases, we want to know who was responsible for the area where you fell or got hurt: the landlord, a property management company, or a maintenance contractor. Lease agreements, management contracts, and maintenance logs often spell out who had that duty. We also look at whether the landlord knew or should have known about the hazard, whether it was a burned-out light in a stairwell, ice that wasn't cleared from a walkway, or a railing that had been loose for some time.
Photos of the condition, maintenance and repair records, prior complaints from other tenants, and witness accounts all help establish what the landlord knew and when. If you were treated at HCA HealthONE Swedish or elsewhere after the incident, those records document your injuries and tie them to the fall or hazard. We move quickly to gather this evidence before conditions change or records are lost.
- Photograph the stairs, railing, walkway, or lighting where you were hurt
- Report the incident to your landlord or property manager in writing
- Get medical care and keep records from HCA HealthONE Swedish or your provider
- Write down what happened while it's fresh, including time and weather
- Ask neighbors if they've complained about the same hazard before
Handling Apartment Injury Claims Near Englewood
Englewood has a mix of apartment complexes along South Broadway, Hampden Avenue, and Santa Fe Drive, along with rental properties reaching toward Littleton and Sheridan. We're familiar with the kinds of common-area hazards that show up in these buildings, from icy parking areas in winter to poorly lit stairwells in older complexes.
If your claim needs to go to court, cases arising in Englewood are typically handled at the Arapahoe County Justice Center. We work with clients throughout the Arapahoe County area and coordinate from our Denver, CO office to keep your case moving.
Damages We Pursue in Apartment Injury Cases
- Medical expenses for treatment of your injuries
- Lost wages if your injury kept you from working
- Pain and suffering from the fall or incident
- Future medical care if your recovery is ongoing
- 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 Englewood — 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.
Englewood Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
Is my landlord responsible if I fall inside my own apartment?
Not necessarily. Landlord responsibility usually depends on who controlled the area where the hazard existed. Conditions strictly inside your unit are handled differently than shared stairs, entries, or parking areas the landlord maintains.
What counts as a common area in an apartment complex?
Common areas generally include stairwells, entryways, hallways, parking lots, and walkways that connect units or serve the building as a whole. These are spaces the landlord or property manager typically has some responsibility to maintain.
Does it matter why I was at the apartment complex when I got hurt?
Yes. Colorado's premises liability statute considers your status, such as whether you were a tenant, guest, or visitor, and that status affects the duty the landlord owed you. We evaluate this early in every case.
What if the landlord says they didn't know about the hazard?
We look for evidence showing the landlord knew or should have known, such as prior complaints, maintenance records, or how long the condition existed. Notice is often a key issue in these cases.
How much does it cost to talk to a lawyer about my injury?
We offer a free consultation, and there's no attorney fee unless we recover for you. You can discuss what happened before deciding whether to move forward.
Discuss a Englewood premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.