El Paso County · Apartment and common-area injuries
Colorado Springs Apartment Premises Lawyers
Hurt on apartment stairs or in a parking lot in Colorado Springs? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Apartment and Common-Area Injury Claims
Apartment complexes have areas tenants share and areas landlords keep for themselves to manage: stairwells, entries, breezeways, parking lots, and walkways. When a landlord possesses or is responsible for one of these spaces, the landlord can be a landowner under Colorado premises law for that space. That means a fall on a broken step or an icy walkway in a common area can support a claim against the property owner or management company.
This is different from a hazard inside a tenant's own unit. We do not assume a landlord is automatically liable for every problem behind a tenant's door. Control matters. If the landlord did not possess or have responsibility for the specific area or condition, the analysis changes, and we look closely at lease terms, maintenance records, and who actually had control of that space before we evaluate a claim.
Even in a common area, the injured person's status under Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, still applies. Whether someone was there as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser affects what duty the landlord owed. We walk through that status question early so a claim is built on the right legal footing from the start.
Building the Case
Common-area cases often turn on who knew about a hazard and how long it existed before someone got hurt. We look at maintenance logs, work orders, prior complaint records, and any documentation showing the landlord's actual control over the stairs, railing, lighting, or parking area involved. Photos of the condition, taken as close to the time of the fall as possible, matter a great deal here.
We also gather lease agreements and property management contracts to establish who was responsible for upkeep of the space where the injury happened. Witness accounts from neighbors or other tenants can help show a hazard was known and left unaddressed. All of this builds toward showing the landlord possessed or was responsible for the area, and that the condition causing the injury was one they should have fixed.
- Photos of the stairs, railing, walkway, or parking area where you fell
- Any maintenance requests or complaints you or neighbors made about the condition
- Your lease and any property management contact information
- Names of witnesses or other tenants who saw the hazard or the fall
- Medical records from any treatment you received afterward
Handling Apartment Injury Claims in Colorado Springs
We see common-area injury claims from apartment complexes across Colorado Springs, including properties near Powers Boulevard, Academy Boulevard, Woodmen Road, Briargate, and Old Colorado City. These claims can involve large management companies or smaller local landlords, and the property records and maintenance history look different depending on who owns and runs the building. We review those records case by case rather than assuming how any one complex is managed.
If your case needs to go to court, it would typically be filed in El Paso County Combined Courts. If you were treated after a fall at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central or CommonSpirit Penrose Hospital, those records become part of the file we build to connect the injury to the condition on the property.
What These Claims May Cover
- Medical bills and future treatment related to the fall
- Lost income if the injury kept you from working
- Pain and physical limitations from the injury
- Costs of ongoing care or rehabilitation
- Other out-of-pocket losses tied to the injury
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Colorado 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.
Colorado Springs Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
Can my landlord be responsible for a fall on the apartment stairs?
Possibly, if the landlord possessed or was responsible for that stairway as a common area. We look at the lease, maintenance history, and who actually controlled the space before evaluating the claim.
What if I fell inside my own apartment unit?
That is a different situation from a common-area fall. We do not assume a landlord is liable for every hazard inside a tenant's unit, so we examine who was responsible for that specific condition before drawing any conclusions.
Does it matter whether I was a tenant, guest, or delivery driver when I fell?
Yes. Colorado's premises liability statute classifies people as invitees, licensees, or trespassers, and that status affects what duty the landlord owed. This applies in common areas just as it does elsewhere on the property.
What if the ice or hazard had been there for a while before I fell?
How long a hazard existed and whether the landlord knew or should have known about it are important facts. We gather maintenance records and witness statements to help establish that timeline.
Do I need to know the exact code violation to have a claim?
No. We do not build these cases around citing a specific housing code section. We focus on who controlled the area, what condition caused the fall, and whether the landlord met the duty owed under Colorado premises law.
Discuss a Colorado Springs premises injury
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