Fremont County · Apartment and common-area injuries
Florence Apartment Premises Lawyers
Injured on stairs, ice, or a broken railing at a Florence apartment? Free consultation, no fee unless we recover.
Landlord Liability in Common Areas
When you're hurt in a stairwell, entryway, or parking area at a Florence apartment complex, the landlord can be treated as a landowner under Colorado law for those common areas. That's different from a hazard inside your own leased unit, where control and responsibility can shift to the tenant. The question we ask first is simple: who controlled the area where you were hurt, and who was responsible for maintaining it.
We don't assume a landlord is automatically liable for everything that goes wrong on the property. If the hazard was inside your unit and under your control, that's a different analysis than a broken step in a shared stairwell or an icy walkway leading to the parking lot. Sorting out who had responsibility for the specific location and condition is central to building a case.
Your legal status when you were hurt still matters under Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, even in a common area. Whether you were a tenant, a guest, or someone else on the property affects what duty the landlord owed you. We look at the facts of your visit and your relationship to the property before we can tell you how strong a claim looks.
What Helps Prove a Common-Area Claim
Common-area injuries often come down to who knew about a hazard and how long it existed before you got hurt. Photos of the stairs, railing, lighting, or icy walkway right after the incident matter, along with any prior complaints tenants made to management about that same condition. If the property has maintenance logs, work orders, or a manager who inspected the area, that record can show whether the landlord was on notice.
We also look at whether the hazard was in a space the landlord clearly controlled, like a shared stairwell or parking lot, versus something inside a private unit. Witness statements from neighbors, incident reports filed with the property manager, and records from CommonSpirit St. Thomas More Hospital in Cañon City documenting your treatment all help connect the condition to your injury.
- Photograph the stairs, railing, lighting, or walkway where you fell
- Report the incident to the property manager or landlord in writing
- Get contact information for any witnesses in the building
- Keep copies of any prior complaints about the same hazard
- Seek medical care and keep all treatment records
Handling Apartment Cases Near Florence
Florence has apartment complexes and rental housing along Main Street, East 3rd Street, and near Colorado Highway 115, with many residents also renting in nearby Cañon City and Penrose. We're familiar with the mix of older and newer rental properties in Fremont County and the kinds of common-area hazards that show up in stairwells, parking areas, and building entries in this part of the county.
If your case needs to go to court, it would typically be filed at Fremont County Combined Courts in Cañon City. We handle that filing and the surrounding casework from our office at 301 N. Main Street in Pueblo, so you don't have to navigate the legal side while you're recovering.
Damages We Pursue
- Medical bills for treatment of your fall or injury
- Lost wages if your injury kept you from working
- Pain and suffering from the incident
- Future medical costs if you need ongoing care
- Out-of-pocket costs related to your recovery
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Florence — and read client testimonials.
A pickup hit me from behind on Hwy 50 east of Pueblo. The insurer offered $2,600. McCormick & Murphy helped with treatment, filed suit, and the case settled at mediation for $165,000.
C. O., Pueblo · Highway 50 crash
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Florence Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
Can my landlord be liable if I fell inside my own apartment?
It depends on what caused the fall and who controlled that condition. Hazards inside a tenant's unit are treated differently than hazards in stairwells, entries, or parking areas the landlord maintains. We look closely at where the injury happened before we can say who may be responsible.
What counts as a common area in an apartment complex?
Common areas generally include stairs, entryways, hallways, and parking areas that the landlord possesses or is responsible for maintaining, rather than space inside an individual unit. Whether a specific spot counts as a common area depends on the layout and lease arrangement at that property.
Does it matter whether I was a tenant or a visitor when I got hurt?
Yes. Colorado's premises liability statute treats different categories of people differently, and your status affects what duty the landlord owed you at the time. We review the facts of your visit to determine which category applies.
What if the landlord says they didn't know about the hazard?
Whether the landlord knew or should have known about a condition is often a key issue. Records of prior complaints, maintenance requests, or how long the hazard existed can help show notice.
Where would a Florence apartment injury case be filed?
Cases arising in Florence are typically filed at Fremont County Combined Courts in Cañon City. We handle the filing and legal work while you focus on treatment and recovery.
Discuss a Florence premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.