El Paso County · Apartment and common-area injuries
Security-Widefield Apartment Premises Lawyers
Injured on apartment stairs or a common walkway in Security-Widefield? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Who Is Responsible for a Common-Area Fall
Apartment complexes in Security-Widefield are made up of two different kinds of space: the inside of a tenant's unit, and the common areas the landlord keeps control over, like stairwells, entry walkways, parking lots, and shared lighting. When a fall happens on a staircase, an icy walkway, or near a loose railing in one of these shared areas, the landlord can be treated as the landowner responsible for that space under Colorado premises law.
That does not mean a landlord is automatically on the hook for everything that goes wrong inside a rented unit. Colorado law looks at who actually controlled the condition that caused the injury. If a hazard was in a common area the landlord managed, that points toward landlord responsibility. If the hazard was something inside a tenant's own apartment that the tenant controlled, the analysis is different.
Colorado's premises liability statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, also asks what the injured person's legal status was at the time, invitee, licensee, or trespasser, and that question does not go away just because the injury happened in a common area rather than inside a unit. We look at how the injured person came to be on the property and what duty the landlord owed as a result before we evaluate a claim.
Building Records and Site Conditions
Common-area falls at apartment complexes often turn on maintenance and inspection records, lighting logs, snow and ice removal schedules, and prior complaints about the same stairs, railing, or walkway. We work to identify and request these records from the property management company before they are lost or overwritten.
Photos of the specific stairs, railing, or walkway, taken as close in time to the fall as possible, along with witness accounts from other tenants, help establish what the condition actually looked like. If the injury involved medical treatment, for example at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs, those records help connect the fall to the injuries claimed.
- Photos of the stairs, railing, walkway, or lighting involved
- Names of other tenants or visitors who witnessed the fall
- Any prior complaints made to the landlord or management office about the same area
- Copies of the lease and any incident report filed with management
- Records from any medical treatment received after the fall
Apartment Living in Security-Widefield
Security-Widefield has a substantial rental and apartment population along corridors like U.S. Highway 85, Bradley Road, Fontaine Boulevard, and Widefield Boulevard, with additional rental housing extending toward Fountain. Many of these complexes have shared stairwells, exterior walkways, and parking areas that see heavy foot traffic and are exposed to Colorado winter weather.
We handle apartment and common-area claims arising in Security-Widefield through El Paso County Combined Courts. Our office is at 929 W Colorado Ave in Colorado Springs, and we meet with injured tenants and visitors from the Security-Widefield area to review what happened and who controlled the area where the fall occurred.
Losses We Evaluate
- Medical bills and follow-up care
- Lost wages from time away from work
- Pain and physical limitations after the fall
- Costs of any future treatment or therapy
- Impact on daily activities and mobility
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Security-Widefield — 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.
Security-Widefield Apartment and common-area injuries FAQ
Is my landlord responsible if I fell on the apartment stairs?
It depends on whether the stairs were a common area the landlord controlled and maintained. Colorado premises law treats a landlord as the responsible landowner for shared spaces like stairs and walkways, but we still need to look at how the hazard developed and who had notice of it.
What if I fell inside my own apartment, not in a common area?
Conditions inside a tenant's own unit are treated differently than shared common areas, because control over the space is different. We would need to look at who was actually responsible for the specific condition that caused the fall before evaluating whether a claim exists.
Does it matter why I was at the apartment complex?
Yes. Under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, the injured person's status as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser affects what duty the landlord owed, even in a common area. We ask about the purpose of the visit early in our review.
What should I do after a fall on apartment property in Security-Widefield?
Take photos of the area, get names of any witnesses, and report the fall to the management office. Seeking medical evaluation, including at facilities like UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central, also helps document the injury.
Do you handle these claims for Security-Widefield tenants?
Yes, we evaluate apartment and common-area falls arising in Security-Widefield through El Paso County Combined Courts. We offer a free consultation and do not charge an attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Discuss a Security-Widefield premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.