Arapahoe, Jefferson, and Douglas counties · Apartment and common-area injuries
Littleton Apartment Premises Lawyers
If you were hurt on stairs or in a common area at a Littleton apartment, free consultation, no fee unless we recover.
Landlord Liability for Common Areas
In Colorado, a landlord can be treated as a landowner for the parts of a property the landlord actually controls or is responsible for maintaining. That usually means stairways, hallways, entryways, parking lots, and shared walkways at an apartment complex. If a landlord manages those spaces, the landlord can be held responsible when a hazard in one of them causes injury.
That is different from a hazard inside a tenant's own unit. We do not assume a landlord is liable for every condition behind a tenant's front door. The question is who had control over the area and the condition that caused the fall or injury, and whether that party knew or should have known about it.
Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, still applies to common-area injuries at an apartment complex. The injured person's status on the property affects what the landlord owed them at the time of the incident. We look at the facts of how the injury happened before we describe what a landlord's responsibility was in that specific area.
Building Evidence in a Common-Area Case
Common areas change fast. Ice gets salted, a loose railing gets tightened, a burned-out light gets replaced, and the condition that caused your fall may be gone within days. Photos of the stairs, railing, walkway, or parking area, taken as soon as possible and from multiple angles, are some of the most useful evidence we can have.
We also look at maintenance and complaint history for the building, incident reports the property manager may have created, and witness accounts from other tenants who use the same common areas. If you sought care after the fall, records from a provider such as AdventHealth Littleton can help connect the injury to the incident and show its extent.
- Photograph the stairs, railing, walkway, or lighting condition right away
- Report the incident to the property manager or landlord in writing
- Get the names of any witnesses who saw the fall
- Save the clothing and shoes you were wearing
- Seek medical care and keep copies of records and bills
Handling Apartment Cases Near Littleton
We work with tenants injured at apartment complexes throughout the Littleton area, including properties near Santa Fe Drive, Bowles Avenue, South Broadway, Englewood, and Highlands Ranch. Apartment injury claims here can touch Arapahoe, Jefferson, or Douglas counties depending on where the property sits, and a case is generally filed in the district court for the county where the injury occurred.
Our office is based in Denver, and we meet with Littleton clients by phone, video, or in person depending on what works best. We're familiar with the mix of older and newer apartment stock in this area and how that affects common conditions like stairwell lighting, exterior railings, and winter ice on walkways.
What You May Be Able to Recover
- Medical bills related to the fall or injury
- Future medical care if your injury requires ongoing treatment
- Lost wages from time away from work
- Pain and physical limitations caused by the injury
- Other out-of-pocket costs tied to the incident
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Littleton — 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.
Littleton Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
Is my landlord responsible if I fell on the apartment stairs?
It depends on who controlled and maintained that stairway. If the landlord was responsible for the common-area stairs, they may be held liable if a hazardous condition caused your fall. We look at the lease, the layout of the building, and who actually managed that space.
What if I fell inside my own apartment unit?
Liability inside a tenant's own unit is not automatic just because the landlord owns the building. Control over the specific condition matters, and we would need to look at who was responsible for that part of the unit before we could evaluate a claim.
Does it matter why I was at the apartment complex?
Yes. Colorado's premises liability statute considers the injured person's status on the property, and that status can affect what the landlord owed at the time. We review the circumstances of your visit as part of evaluating the claim.
What evidence helps most in an apartment common-area case?
Photos of the hazard taken soon after the incident, a written report to the property manager, and witness information are especially valuable. Maintenance records for the building can also show whether the condition was known about beforehand.
Where would a Littleton apartment injury case be filed?
Cases are generally filed in the district court for the county where the injury occurred, which could be Arapahoe, Jefferson, or Douglas County depending on the property's location. We can help determine the right venue once we know where the complex is situated.
Discuss a Littleton premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.