El Paso County · Stairs and poor lighting
Colorado Springs Stair and Lighting Injury Lawyers
Injured on broken stairs or in a dark stairwell in Colorado Springs? Free consultation, no fee unless we recover for you.
Stair and Lighting Claims Under Colorado Law
Broken steps, missing or loose handrails, and dark stairwells are property conditions covered under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, Colorado's premises liability statute. That law sets out how a landowner's responsibility depends on why you were on the property when you fell.
Your status matters. If you were an invitee, the landowner had to exercise reasonable care to protect you from dangers they knew about or should have discovered through reasonable inspection. A dark stairwell or a step that's been broken for a while can support an argument that the hazard should have been found and fixed before you were hurt.
We don't rely on citing a specific building code section to make these cases. Instead, we look at what the property owner actually knew, what a reasonable inspection would have revealed, and whether they acted on it. That's the framework the statute uses, and it's the one we build your claim around.
What We Look For After a Stairway Fall
Photos of the step, the handrail, and the lighting matter more than almost anything else in these cases, and they need to be taken before repairs happen. Once a property manager fixes a broken step or swaps out a burned-out bulb, that physical evidence is gone. If you can safely photograph the condition right after your fall, do it, and get the same angle in daylight and under the same lighting you experienced.
We also look at whether the owner had any record of prior complaints, maintenance requests, or repair work related to that stairway. Combined with photos, incident reports, and witness accounts, this helps establish whether the hazard was something the owner knew about or should have caught with reasonable inspection.
- Photograph the step, handrail, and lighting before anything is repaired
- Note the time of day and lighting conditions at the time of your fall
- Get contact information for anyone who saw you fall
- Report the fall to the property manager or owner in writing
- Seek medical care and follow up on your treatment
Stairway Falls Around Colorado Springs
Stairwell and lighting hazards show up in apartment complexes, retail centers, and older buildings across the city, from busy corridors along Powers Boulevard and Academy Boulevard to the historic storefronts of Old Colorado City. Older buildings and poorly maintained rental properties near Woodmen Road and in Briargate often have outdated lighting fixtures or stairs that haven't been updated to current safety standards, which can contribute to falls.
If your fall happened at a business or residential property in the Colorado Springs area, a claim like this typically proceeds through El Paso County Combined Courts. If you were treated at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central or CommonSpirit Penrose Hospital, those medical records can help document the injury and support your claim.
Damages We Pursue in Stairway Fall Cases
- Medical expenses for treatment of your fall injuries
- Lost income if you missed work while recovering
- Pain and suffering from your injuries
- Costs of ongoing rehabilitation or physical therapy
- Reduced ability to perform daily activities during recovery
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 Stairs and poor lighting FAQ
Do I need to prove a specific building code was violated?
No. Colorado premises liability claims focus on what the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard, not on citing a particular code section. We build these cases around the owner's knowledge and inspection practices rather than technical code violations.
What if the stairs were fixed before I could take photos?
It's still possible to build a claim without your own photos, but it becomes harder. We look for other evidence like maintenance records, prior complaints, witness statements, and any photos taken by others, including responding personnel or other tenants.
Does it matter why I was on the property when I fell?
Yes. Your status as a visitor affects what duty of care the property owner owed you. If you were there for a purpose connected to the property's business or for a purpose the owner permitted, that generally strengthens your position under the statute.
What if the lighting was broken for a while before my fall?
A pattern of poor lighting or complaints about it can support an argument that the owner should have known about the hazard and had time to fix it. Records of prior complaints or repair requests are useful evidence if they exist.
How much does it cost to talk to a lawyer about my fall?
Nothing. We offer a free consultation, and we don't charge an attorney fee unless we recover money for you. You can discuss what happened with us before deciding whether to move forward.
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