Larimer County · Colorado Premises Liability Law
Fort Collins Premises Liability Lawyers
Fort Collins premises liability law for people hurt on property in Fort Collins. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you.
Fort Collins Premises Liability Law: Invitee, Licensee, or Trespasser
McCormick & Murphy handle Fort Collins premises liability law claims for people hurt on property where the duty depends on why they were there. We file in Larimer County Justice Center.
Colorado premises liability claims start with a question most people never think about until they're hurt: why were you on the property? Under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, a landowner's legal duty depends on whether you were an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser. This classification shapes everything about your case, so we work through it carefully before we ever talk strategy.
If you were an invitee, meaning you were on the property for a purpose connected to the owner's business, like shopping at a College Avenue store or dining at a Harmony Road restaurant, the landowner owes you reasonable care against dangers they actually knew about or should have known about. That's the broadest duty Colorado law recognizes, and it covers most customers, clients, and patrons.
If you were a licensee, such as a social guest at a private home in Wellington or Loveland, the duty is narrower. The landowner has to avoid unreasonable failure to use reasonable care for dangers they created and actually knew about, or warn you of unusual dangers they didn't create but actually knew about. That's a real difference from the inspection-style duty owed to a customer, and it changes what we have to prove. Trespassers face the narrowest protection of all, generally limited to harm the landowner caused willfully or deliberately, though we look closely at the facts before assuming that category applies.
Preserve Steps To Protect A Fort Collins Premises Claim
Because your legal status on the property drives the entire analysis, evidence gathering starts with pinning down exactly why you were there and what the property owner knew. We look for prior complaints, maintenance logs, inspection records, and witness statements that show actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard, whether the incident happened at a Mulberry Street business or a private residence near Loveland.
We also document the condition itself, photographs, measurements, incident reports, and any communication from the property owner or manager after the fall or injury. If treatment happened at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, those medical records help connect the hazard to your injuries. The goal is a clear record that supports the specific duty owed to someone in your position, not a generic slip-and-fall narrative.
- Report the incident to the property owner or manager and get it in writing
- Photograph the hazard, the location, and surrounding conditions before anything changes
- Get contact information for anyone who witnessed the incident
- Seek medical evaluation and keep all records from your treatment
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurer before speaking with us
College Avenue, Harmony Road, And Mulberry Street Premises Claims
We handle premises liability claims arising throughout Fort Collins, from retail and dining incidents along College Avenue and Harmony Road to residential and commercial properties near Mulberry Street. We also work with clients in Loveland and Wellington who were injured on someone else's property in the surrounding Larimer County area.
When litigation is necessary, cases from this area are typically handled through the Larimer County Justice Center. We're based in Denver but represent clients throughout the region, meeting where it's convenient and handling court appearances so you don't have to navigate the system alone.
Investigating Fort Collins Premises Liability Claims & Client Office Access
McCormick & Murphy handle Fort Collins premises liability law claims for people hurt on property throughout Larimer County, with cases filed at the Larimer County Justice Center and client meetings available throughout the region.
- Invitee, Licensee, or Trespasser Status Matters: Under Colorado law, a landowner's duty depends on whether you were an invitee (such as a customer at a College Avenue store), a licensee (like a social guest at a private home), or a trespasser. This classification shapes what we must prove about the owner's knowledge of the hazard.
- Denver Office Serving Fort Collins Clients: We are based in Denver but represent clients throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, and the surrounding Larimer County area, meeting where it is convenient and handling court appearances so you do not have to navigate the system alone.
What Your Fort Collins Premises Claim May Cover: Medical Bills And Lost Income
- Medical expenses related to the injury
- Lost income from time away from work
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical care if injuries are ongoing
- Loss of enjoyment of life from lasting limitations
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Fort Collins — 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.
Questions We Hear From Fort Collins Clients
Do I need Fort Collins premises liability law after an injury?
Call Fort Collins premises liability law when you were hurt, fault is disputed, or an insurer delays, denies, or offers less than the medical bills. The nearest office is in Denver, CO.
How do I know if I was an invitee or a licensee?
It depends on why you were on the property. If you were there for a business purpose, like shopping or dining, you're typically an invitee. If you were a social guest with no commercial purpose, you're usually a licensee, and the duty owed to you is narrower.
Can a trespasser ever recover damages in Colorado?
Recovery for a trespasser is limited to harm the landowner caused willfully or deliberately. It's a narrow path, but the facts of each situation matter, so it's worth discussing your specific circumstances with us.
Does the property owner have to have known about the hazard?
Generally, yes. For invitees, the owner must have actually known or should have known about the danger. For licensees, the standard focuses on dangers the owner actually knew about, whether they created the hazard or not.
What if I was hurt at a business on Harmony Road or College Avenue?
Most customers at Fort Collins businesses are invitees, which means the owner owes a duty of reasonable care against known or discoverable hazards. We look at maintenance records, prior incidents, and inspection practices to determine what the business knew.
I was injured as a guest at a friend's home. Do I still have a claim?
Possibly. As a licensee, you may have a claim if the homeowner created the hazard and knew about it, or knew of an unusual danger they didn't warn you about. We can review the details to see whether that duty was met.
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Discuss Your Fort Collins Premises Liability Case
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