Larimer County · Premises injuries
Fort Collins Premises Liability Lawyers
Fort Collins property injuries from unsafe conditions—we help injured residents pursue landowner liability and recover damages across Larimer County.
Why Property Owners Are Responsible for Unsafe Conditions
Colorado premises-liability law holds property owners accountable when they fail to maintain safe conditions or warn visitors of known hazards. The owner's duty depends on your legal status: whether you were an invitee (customer or guest), licensee, or trespasser. An invitee receives the highest level of protection. If you slipped on ice near a Fort Collins business, tripped on a broken stair, or fell in a poorly lit parking area, the owner may have known—or should have known—about the danger and failed to fix it or post a warning.
What matters is whether the owner acted reasonably. Did they inspect the property regularly? Did they clean up spills promptly? Did they maintain stairs, handrails, and lighting? If a prior complaint or a pattern of injuries shows the owner knew the condition was unsafe, liability becomes clearer. Fort Collins Police Services and the Larimer County Sheriff's Office can document slip-and-fall scenes, and UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital records your injuries. These facts build your claim.
Evidence That Proves Liability
Evidence in a premises-liability case disappears fast. Surveillance video is often overwritten within weeks. Wet floors or debris are cleaned up immediately. That is why we move quickly to preserve incident reports filed with Fort Collins Police Services or the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, secure surveillance footage from the property, and collect photographs of the hazard before it is remedied. We also request the property owner's inspection logs, cleaning schedules, maintenance records, and any prior complaints about the same condition.
Witness statements are powerful. If other people saw what happened or know the property was chronically unsafe, their testimony supports your claim. Weather records document ice and snow on dates like those in question. Medical records from UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital establish the extent of your injury and the force of the impact. Expert inspectors can testify that the property owner failed to meet industry standards for safety and maintenance. Together, this evidence proves the owner knew or should have known about the hazard and did nothing.
Local investigations may involve Fort Collins Police Services and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, scene conditions at businesses, parking lots, or sidewalks near Loveland or Wellington.
Other local risks include College Avenue at Harmony Road, winter conditions on Lemay Avenue, and congestion near the Colorado State University campus.
Unsafe conditions—ice, spills, poor lighting, broken stairs, or hazards in parking areas—can cause serious injuries. Colorado premises-liability law holds property owners responsible when they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition. Evidence often disappears quickly. Collect the following:
- Photographs and video of the exact spot where you fell or were injured, including lighting, weather, and any visible hazard
- Your own account of what happened, written down with the date and time
- Names, phone numbers, and statements from anyone who saw the incident
- Incident or accident report filed with the property owner, manager, or business
- Medical records from UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital or other treatment facility, including initial exam notes and diagnoses
- Receipts for medical care, medications, and travel to appointments
- Pay stubs or employer statement showing lost wages or work restrictions
- Maintenance and cleaning logs for the property (request from owner or manager)
- Prior inspection records or safety complaints about the same location
- Surveillance video from nearby cameras (request promptly—footage is often kept only 30 days)
- Weather records for Fort Collins and Larimer County on the day of injury
- Witness contact information and written statements about the condition of the property
- Any communication with the property owner, insurance company, or their representatives
Contact McCormick & Murphy promptly. Premises-liability claims in Colorado are time-sensitive, and some claims against public entities require early written notice.
Medical Treatment and Your Recovery
Premises injuries range from minor sprains to broken bones, head trauma, spinal damage, and long-term disability. UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital and other Larimer County medical providers treat you immediately after a fall or accident. It is critical to seek care right away, document your symptoms, and follow all medical advice. Do not minimize your injuries or skip follow-up appointments. Insurance companies and defense lawyers will use gaps in treatment to argue your injuries were minor or unrelated to the fall.
Keep detailed records: emergency-room reports, imaging results (X-rays, MRI), surgery notes, physical therapy sessions, medications, and restrictions on work or daily activity. Your medical history creates a clear timeline of your recovery and any permanent effects. If you suffer chronic pain, loss of mobility, or need ongoing treatment, those damages add up and justify your claim for full compensation.
Official Fort Collins hospital, report, crash-record, and court links →
What You Can Recover
- Medical expenses: emergency care, imaging, surgery, physical therapy, and future treatment at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital or other providers
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if injury keeps you from work or forces a job change
- Pain and suffering, including physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability that affects your appearance or function
- Household services and personal care you cannot perform due to injury
- Property damage if personal items were harmed in the fall
The Larimer County Justice Center is where premises-liability cases are filed, and we pursue full compensation to cover all your past and future losses.
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.
Fort Collins Premises injuries FAQ
Who can be held responsible for my fall on someone else's property in Fort Collins?
Colorado premises-liability law holds property owners and managers responsible if they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition—like ice on College Avenue storefronts, spills in a Harmony Road parking lot, or poor stair lighting—and failed to fix it or warn visitors. The owner's liability depends on your legal status on the property (customer, employee, trespasser), what caused the injury, and whether the condition created an unreasonable risk. Falls on ice, broken pavement, or debris are common premises claims. The analysis changes if the incident involved a city-owned property or a business; public entity claims carry strict notice rules.
How quickly do I need to act after a premises injury in Fort Collins?
Act immediately. Evidence vanishes fast: surveillance video is typically kept only 30 days, witnesses move away or forget details, and the dangerous condition may be cleaned up or repaired. File a written complaint with the property owner or manager as soon as possible. If the incident occurred on public property—a city sidewalk, county building, or government facility in Larimer County—Colorado law requires written notice within a short window. Bring medical records and photos to your doctor visit. Call McCormick & Murphy right away to discuss your specific deadline and the type of claim you may have.
What should I photograph or document at the scene of my fall?
Take photographs or video of the exact location where you fell, including the hazard (ice, wet spot, broken stair, poor lighting, debris). Capture the surrounding area to show context—nearby warning signs or lack thereof. Record the time of day to show lighting conditions. If weather was a factor (snow or ice on Lemay Avenue or near Colorado State University), take weather photos. Get the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw you fall or who witnessed the condition. If you can safely return to the location within a few days, document it again to show whether the hazard was fixed or cleaned. Do not sign anything or give a recorded statement to an insurance company before consulting an attorney.
Do I have a claim if I slipped on ice or snow in Fort Collins?
Possibly. Colorado premises-liability law treats ice and snow differently depending on whether the property owner created the hazard or negligently failed to remove or warn about it. A natural accumulation of snow or ice may not trigger liability; however, if the owner failed to salt, sand, or clear a walkway after reasonable opportunity, or if they created the icy condition through negligence (such as allowing water to freeze), you may have a claim. Fort Collins winters and the local roads—College Avenue, Harmony Road, Mulberry Street—see frequent ice buildup. Injury circumstances vary widely. Consult McCormick & Murphy for a case-specific review of your fall.
How does McCormick & Murphy charge for premises-liability cases?
McCormick & Murphy handles injury claims, including premises-liability cases, on a contingency fee basis. That means the firm earns an attorney fee only if your case is settled or won in court. You pay nothing upfront for legal representation. Costs for medical records, court filings, expert review, and other case expenses are advanced by the firm and separate from the attorney fee. You will never owe the firm a fee if there is no recovery. Ask about the specific arrangement during your free consultation.
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