Pueblo County · Apartment and common-area injuries
Pueblo Apartment Premises Lawyers
Injured on stairs, ice, or a broken railing at a Pueblo apartment complex? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Landlord Liability for Common Areas
Under Colorado's premises liability law, a landlord can be treated as a landowner for the common areas the landlord possesses or is responsible for maintaining. That includes stairwells, entryways, walkways, parking lots, and shared lighting fixtures at apartment complexes in Pueblo West, Bessemer, Downtown Pueblo, Belmont, and elsewhere around the city.
That does not mean a landlord answers for every hazard inside a tenant's own unit. Control matters. If a condition existed inside a leased apartment and the landlord had no responsibility to maintain or repair it, the analysis is different than if the hazard was in a hallway, stairway, or lot the landlord controlled and maintained for all residents.
Your status as the injured person still matters under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115 even when the injury happened in a common area rather than inside a unit. We look at whether you were there as an invitee, licensee, or in some other capacity, because that classification shapes what duty the landlord owed and what has to be shown to hold the landlord responsible.
Building What We Need to Prove Control and Notice
Common-area cases turn on who controlled the space and what the landlord knew or should have known about the hazard. We look at lease terms, maintenance logs, work orders, prior tenant complaints, and any records showing who was responsible for snow removal, lighting repairs, or handrail maintenance in the area where you were hurt.
Photos of the stairs, railing, walkway, or parking area taken soon after the fall, along with witness accounts from neighbors or other residents, help establish the condition at the time. If you were treated at CommonSpirit Parkview Medical Center or elsewhere, those records tie your injuries to the incident and support the damages side of the claim.
- Photograph the stairs, railing, lighting, or walkway where you fell
- Get the names of neighbors or other witnesses
- Report the incident to the property manager or landlord in writing
- Keep copies of your lease and any prior complaints about the condition
- Save medical records related to the fall
Handling Apartment Claims in Pueblo
Pueblo has a large stock of apartment and multi-unit rental housing across neighborhoods like Pueblo West, Bessemer, Downtown Pueblo, and Belmont. Many of these properties have shared stairwells, exterior walkways, and parking areas that see heavy foot traffic and, in winter months, ice and snow accumulation.
Claims against landlords and property management companies in Pueblo are filed in Pueblo County District Court. We work from our office at 301 N. Main Street to gather the lease and maintenance records that show who was responsible for the common area where you were injured.
What These Claims Can Cover
- Medical bills for treatment of your injuries
- Future medical care if your injuries require ongoing treatment
- Lost income from time away from work
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to your recovery
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Pueblo — and read client testimonials.
A pickup hit me from behind on Hwy 50 east of Pueblo. The insurer offered $2,600. McCormick & Murphy helped with treatment, filed suit, and the case settled at mediation for $165,000.
C. O., Pueblo · Highway 50 crash
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Pueblo Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
Is my landlord responsible if I fell inside my own apartment?
It depends on who was responsible for the condition that caused the fall. If the hazard was something the landlord had a duty to maintain or repair, the landlord may still be responsible even inside your unit. If it was something within your own control as the tenant, the analysis is different.
What counts as a common area in an apartment complex?
Common areas typically include stairwells, entryways, hallways, parking lots, and other spaces shared by multiple tenants rather than leased exclusively to one unit. Whether a landlord is responsible depends on whether the landlord possessed or was responsible for maintaining that specific area.
Does it matter why I was at the apartment complex?
Yes. Colorado's premises liability statute classifies people as invitees, licensees, or trespassers, and that status affects what duty the landlord owed. This applies to common-area injuries just as it does to injuries inside a unit.
What should I do right after a fall on apartment stairs or a walkway?
Photograph the area, get contact information for any witnesses, and report the incident to the landlord or property manager in writing. Keep your lease and any records of prior complaints about the same condition.
How do you show the landlord knew about the hazard?
We look at maintenance records, prior work orders, and any complaints from other tenants about the same stairs, railing, lighting, or walkway. Consistent past complaints or repair requests can help establish that the landlord had notice of the condition.
Discuss a Pueblo premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.