El Paso County · Colorado premises liability law
Manitou Springs Premises Liability Lawyers
Injured on someone else's property in Manitou Springs? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Colorado's Premises Liability Statute Sets Your Rights
Colorado law, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, does not treat every injured visitor the same way. Your legal status on the property when you got hurt, invitee, licensee, or trespasser, determines what duty the landowner owed you and what you have to prove to recover.
If you were an invitee, someone on the property for a business purpose like a customer at a shop on Manitou Avenue, the landowner owed you reasonable care against dangers they actually knew about or should have known about. That is the broadest duty the statute recognizes.
If you were a licensee, such as a social guest, the duty is narrower. The landowner had to avoid unreasonably failing to use reasonable care for dangers they created and actually knew about, or had to warn you of unusual dangers they did not create but actually knew about. That is not the same inspection obligation owed to a customer, and we look closely at the facts before assuming which category applies to your case.
Proving What the Landowner Knew and When
Because your recovery depends on the landowner's actual or constructive knowledge of a hazard, we work to pin down what they knew and when. That can include maintenance records, prior complaints, inspection logs, and statements from employees or other visitors who noticed the same condition before you were hurt.
We also document the condition itself: photographs of the hazard, the surrounding area, and any warning signs or lack of them. Steep terrain, uneven walkways, and heavy foot traffic along corridors like Manitou Avenue and Ruxton Avenue can make it important to capture the scene quickly before conditions change.
- Report the incident to the property owner or manager and get a copy of any report
- Photograph the hazard, the location, and your injuries as soon as possible
- Get contact information for anyone who saw what happened
- Seek medical evaluation and keep all records tied to the visit
- Avoid discussing fault with the property owner's insurer before speaking with us
Handling Premises Cases From Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs draws heavy foot traffic to its shops, restaurants, and attractions along Manitou Avenue and Ruxton Avenue, and property conditions along U.S. Highway 24 and into Old Colorado City and Colorado Springs matter too. Falls and other injuries on commercial or residential property in this area can raise real questions about whether you were an invitee or a licensee and what the owner knew.
We are based nearby at 929 W Colorado Ave in Colorado Springs and handle premises liability claims arising in Manitou Springs and El Paso County, including matters filed in El Paso County Combined Courts. If your injury required treatment at a facility like UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central, we can help gather those records as part of your claim.
What You May Be Able to Recover
- Medical expenses related to the injury
- Lost income if the injury kept you from work
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to your recovery
- Other losses depending on the facts of your case
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Manitou Springs — and read client testimonials.
A passenger suffered traumatic brain, neck, and back injuries in a Colorado Springs intersection collision. After the carrier refused a fair number, a jury awarded $295,000 including interest and costs.
El Paso County jury verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Manitou Springs Colorado premises liability law FAQ
Does it matter why I was on the property when I got hurt?
Yes. Colorado law bases the landowner's duty on whether you were an invitee, licensee, or trespasser at the time. That status affects what you need to show to hold the landowner responsible.
Am I automatically an invitee if I was invited onto the property?
Not necessarily. Being invited does not automatically make you an invitee under the statute. We look at the purpose of your visit and the relationship with the property owner to determine your actual status.
What if I was a social guest rather than a customer?
Social guests are generally licensees, which carries a narrower duty than the one owed to customers. The owner must avoid unreasonably failing to address dangers they created and knew about, or must warn of unusual dangers they knew about but did not create.
Can a trespasser ever recover for injuries on someone's property?
It is limited. A trespasser can generally only recover for harm the landowner caused willfully or deliberately, not for ordinary negligence. We can review the specific circumstances to see whether that standard might be met.
What should I do after a fall or injury on someone else's property in Manitou Springs?
Report the incident, document the scene and your injuries, and get witness information if possible. Then contact us for a free consultation so we can evaluate your status on the property and what the owner knew.
Discuss a Manitou Springs premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.