Adams and Jefferson counties · Premises injuries
Westminster Premises Liability Lawyers
We investigate unsafe conditions in Westminster and hold negligent property owners accountable under Colorado law.
How Westminster Premises-Liability Claims Work
Colorado premises liability turns on your legal status when injured—were you an invitee, licensee, or trespasser?—and what the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard. A store manager on Federal Boulevard has a duty to maintain safe shopping conditions. A landlord in Broomfield must repair known stairwell defects. A parking-lot operator near U.S. Highway 36 cannot ignore standing water or poor lighting. The owner's knowledge matters: Did they know about the ice? Should routine inspection have revealed the spill? How long had the condition existed?
We gather evidence quickly because recordings, incident reports, and witness memories fade fast. Westminster Police Department may file a report if the fall occurred on commercial property or resulted in serious injury. We request that report, subpoena surveillance video, and interview anyone who saw the condition before your fall. The timeline is crucial—if a spill sat uncleaned for hours, the owner may have known or should have. We build your claim on the owner's duty, breach, and causation.
Evidence That Proves Negligent Conditions
Surveillance footage is gold in premises cases. Parking areas, store aisles, and entryways often have cameras. Video can show how long a hazard existed, whether warning signs were present, and exactly how you fell. We file preservation letters immediately to prevent deletion. Incident reports filed with the Westminster Police Department or property management are also critical—they create a contemporaneous record of the condition and circumstances.
Inspection logs, cleaning schedules, and maintenance records reveal whether the owner was negligent. If a grocery store in Arvada has no record of floor checks during the time a spill occurred, that absence of care strengthens your case. Prior complaints from other customers about the same hazard—loose handrails, cracked concrete, inadequate lighting near I-25 intersections—show a pattern of neglect. Weather records for the date of your fall on 120th Avenue or Federal Boulevard help prove whether ice formation was foreseeable. Photographs, witness statements, and your own medical records complete the picture.
Local investigations may involve Westminster Police Department, scene conditions at businesses, parking lots, or sidewalks near Broomfield or Arvada.
Unsafe conditions—ice, spills, broken stairs, poor lighting, hazardous parking areas—can cause serious injuries. In Westminster and Adams or Jefferson counties, evidence must be gathered quickly before it vanishes. Use this checklist to document what happened and what the property owner knew or should have known. ✓ Photographs and video of the dangerous condition (ice, water, debris, broken surface, inadequate lighting) from multiple angles and distances ✓ Photos of your injuries taken within days of the incident ✓ Scene photographs showing weather conditions, time of day, visibility, and surrounding area ✓ Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of all witnesses who saw the condition or your fall ✓ Your own detailed account: date, time, exactly what you were doing, how you fell or were injured, what caused it ✓ Medical records from CommonSpirit St. Anthony North Hospital or your treating provider documenting the injury ✓ Incident report filed with the property manager, business, or Westminster Police Department ✓ Any written warnings, complaints, or previous reports about the same hazard ✓ Maintenance logs, inspection records, and cleaning schedules for the area where you were injured ✓ Weather records for the date of the incident (snow, ice, rain conditions) ✓ Surveillance video from the property or nearby businesses ✓ Your medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing treatment records ✓ Any communication from the property owner, manager, or insurance company after the incident
Medical Documentation and Damages in Westminster Cases
The moment you fall or slip, seek medical attention and document everything. CommonSpirit St. Anthony North Hospital or any emergency room will create a record linking your injuries directly to the fall. That medical record is essential: it establishes causation and proves the severity of harm. Tell the doctor or nurse exactly where you fell, what caused it, and how it happened. Request copies of all imaging, lab work, and provider notes. Ongoing treatment—physical therapy, orthopedic follow-up, imaging—builds the value of your claim.
Damages in premises cases include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life. If the fall broke your arm and you missed work for weeks, those lost earnings are recoverable. If you need ongoing therapy or have permanent scarring, that matters too. Your case may be resolved through negotiation with the property owner's liability insurance or pursued in Adams County Justice Center or Jefferson County Courts if settlement fails.
Official Westminster hospital, report, crash-record, and court links →
Recoverable Damages in Premises Injuries
- All medical expenses: emergency care, imaging, surgery, therapy, and future treatment related to your fall
- Lost income and lost earning capacity during recovery and for any permanent disability
- Pain, suffering, and reduced enjoyment of daily life
- Scarring, disfigurement, or permanent physical limitations caused by the fall
- Property damage if your personal belongings were harmed in the incident
- Home modifications or assistive devices needed due to lasting injury
Damages are proven at trial in Adams County Justice Center or Jefferson County Courts through medical records, your testimony, and expert testimony on long-term effects and fair compensation.
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Westminster — 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.
Westminster Premises injuries FAQ
What makes a property owner responsible for my fall or injury in Westminster?
Colorado premises-liability law holds property owners responsible when they knew—or reasonably should have known—about a dangerous condition and failed to fix it, warn you, or keep you safe. The owner's duty depends on your legal status: whether you were an invited guest, a customer, a trespasser, or there for business. Even a short time span matters. If you slipped on ice outside a store on U.S. Highway 36 or Federal Boulevard, the owner should have salted or sanded the area within a reasonable time after a storm. If water leaked from a roof onto stairs in a building in Westminster, maintenance records will show whether the owner knew or ignored the problem. An attorney can review your specific situation and the property owner's obligations.
How quickly do I need to file a claim for a premises injury in Westminster?
Time limits depend on the type of claim and who is responsible. If the property is private, Colorado's statute of limitations is typically two years from the date of injury. However, if a public entity—such as a government building, school, or public facility in Westminster or Adams County—is involved, you must file a written notice of claim much sooner, often within one to three months. Delays can also weaken your case because evidence disappears: surveillance video is deleted, witnesses move away, and memories fade. Contact us promptly after your injury so we can review the specific deadline and send any required notices on time.
Should I file a report with the Westminster Police Department after my injury?
If you fell or were injured due to a property hazard at a commercial or public location in Westminster, ask the property manager or business to file an incident report. You can also contact the Westminster Police Department non-emergency line to document the incident, especially if the condition was severe or posed a risk to others. A police report creates an official record and may prompt the property owner to take corrective action. Keep a copy for your records and provide it to your attorney. Even if police do not respond, the incident report filed by the business or property owner is crucial evidence of notice.
What if surveillance video exists of my fall—how do I preserve it?
Surveillance footage can disappear within days or weeks if the property owner does not preserve it. Immediately send a written letter—email or certified mail—to the property manager or business requesting that they preserve all video from the date and time of your injury. Include your name, the incident date, and a specific time window. Inform them that you intend to pursue a premises-liability claim and that failure to preserve evidence may harm their defense. Give your attorney this letter and the property's contact information so we can follow up with a formal preservation notice. Video from nearby businesses on Federal Boulevard, 120th Avenue, or other Westminster streets may also show the condition or the incident.
How are attorney fees handled in a premises-liability case?
McCormick & Murphy represents injury clients on a contingency-fee basis. This means we earn an attorney fee only if your case is settled or won at trial. There is no upfront fee for legal representation. If we do not recover money for you, you pay no attorney fee. Advanced case costs—such as medical record retrieval, expert reports, or court filing fees—are separate from the attorney fee and are discussed at the outset. This arrangement allows you to pursue your claim without worrying about legal bills while recovering from your injury.
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