Adams and Weld counties · Colorado premises liability law
Thornton Premises Liability Lawyers
Injured on someone else's property in Thornton? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
How Colorado Law Decides What the Landowner Owed You
Colorado premises liability claims are governed by C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, which sets a landowner's duty based on why the injured person was on the property. This statute controls whether a Thornton property owner had to inspect for hazards, warn of them, or do nothing at all. The classification of the injured person as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser drives the entire case.
An invitee, like a customer at a Thornton retail store or restaurant, is owed reasonable care against dangers the landowner actually knew about or should have known about. A licensee, such as a social guest in a private home, is owed a narrower duty: the landowner must not unreasonably fail to use reasonable care for dangers the landowner created and actually knew about, and must warn of unusual dangers the landowner did not create but actually knew about. That is a different and lesser duty than what a business owes its customers.
A trespasser generally may only recover if the landowner's conduct was willful or deliberate. That does not mean every trespasser is automatically barred from recovery, and it does not create additional exceptions beyond what the statute allows. We evaluate how you were classified on the property and what the landowner actually knew before we assess your claim.
Building the Record in a Thornton Premises Case
Because your legal status on the property changes the duty owed, we start by pinning down why you were there and what the owner knew or should have known. That means gathering incident reports, photos of the hazard, maintenance and inspection records, and statements from anyone who saw the condition before you were hurt. If the injury happened at a business near 104th Avenue or Washington Street, security footage and employee schedules can show what staff knew and when.
Medical records tying your injuries to the fall or incident matter too. If you were treated at HCA HealthONE North Suburban Medical Center or another facility, we work to connect that treatment directly to the hazardous condition on the property. The sooner we're involved, the better chance we have of preserving evidence before it's cleaned up, repaired, or lost.
- Photos of the hazard from multiple angles and distances
- Names and contact information of any witnesses
- Incident or accident report filed with the property owner or manager
- Clothing and shoes worn at the time, unwashed
- Medical records and bills from any treatment you received
Serving Thornton and Surrounding Adams and Weld Counties
Thornton sits across Adams and Weld counties, and premises cases here can end up filed at the Adams County Justice Center or the Weld County Combined Courts depending on where the injury occurred. We handle cases arising near I-25, E-470, 104th Avenue, Washington Street, and neighboring Northglenn, from retail centers to apartment complexes to private residences.
Our office is based in Denver, and we regularly work with Thornton clients by phone, video, and in-person meetings so distance is never a barrier to getting your case handled properly.
What You May Be Able to Recover
- Medical expenses related to the injury
- Lost wages from time away from work
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical care if injuries are ongoing
- Property damage connected to the incident
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Thornton — and read client testimonials.
After I was hit by a drunk driver with no insurance, my own insurer refused UM benefits. McCormick & Murphy sued for uninsured motorist benefits and bad faith. A jury awarded me over $900,000.
C. O., Denver · UM / bad-faith verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Thornton Colorado premises liability law FAQ
Does it matter whether I was invited onto the property?
Yes. Colorado law sets the landowner's duty based on your status as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser. A customer is owed more protection than a social guest, and a trespasser is owed the least protection under the statute.
I was a guest at a friend's house in Thornton when I got hurt. What duty did they owe me?
As a licensee, you were owed a narrower duty than a store customer. The owner had to avoid unreasonably failing to use reasonable care for dangers they created and knew about, and had to warn you of unusual dangers they knew about but didn't create.
Can a trespasser ever recover damages in Colorado?
It's possible, but only for damages caused willfully or deliberately by the landowner. This is a narrow path to recovery, not an automatic bar, so the specific facts of how you were injured matter.
Which court would handle my Thornton premises case?
That depends on exactly where in Thornton the injury occurred, since the city spans both Adams and Weld counties. Cases may be filed at the Adams County Justice Center or the Weld County Combined Courts.
What should I do right after a fall or injury on someone else's property?
Document the scene with photos, get witness contact information, and report the incident to the property owner or manager. Seek medical treatment and keep records, then contact us for a free consultation to discuss your options.
Discuss a Thornton premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.