Jefferson County · Colorado premises liability law
Wheat Ridge Premises Liability Lawyers
Injured on someone's property in Wheat Ridge? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
How Colorado Law Classifies Your Visit
Colorado premises liability claims run through C.R.S. § 13‑21‑115, a statute that sets a landowner's duty based on why the injured person was on the property in the first place. We do not assume every visitor is treated the same way under this law, and neither should you. The first step in any Wheat Ridge case is figuring out whether our client was an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser at the time of the fall or injury.
An invitee, like someone shopping along Wadsworth Boulevard or Kipling Street, is owed reasonable care against dangers the property owner actually knew about or should have known about through reasonable inspection. A licensee, such as a social guest at a private home near West 38th Avenue, is owed a narrower duty: the landowner must not unreasonably fail to use reasonable care for dangers they created and actually knew about, or fail to warn of unusual dangers they did not create but actually knew about. That is a meaningfully different standard than what a customer is owed, and we build each case around the correct one.
A trespasser's recovery is limited to damages caused willfully or deliberately by the landowner. That does not mean every trespasser is barred from recovery, and we do not overstate the exceptions in either direction. Getting this classification right early shapes how we investigate, what we argue, and how we present the claim to an insurer or a Jefferson County court.
Building the Record in a Wheat Ridge Case
Because the applicable duty depends on what the landowner actually knew or should have known, we focus on evidence that speaks to notice: prior complaints, maintenance records, photos of the condition, and witness accounts from people who were on the property near I-70, Wadsworth Boulevard, or elsewhere in Wheat Ridge at the time. If our client received treatment at Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, those medical records also help tie the injury to the specific hazard we're describing.
We move quickly to document the scene before conditions change, request incident reports from property managers or businesses, and identify anyone who saw the hazard or the fall. The stronger the record of what the landowner knew, the stronger the argument for the duty owed to our client.
- Photos of the hazard and surrounding area, taken as soon as possible
- Names and contact information for any witnesses
- Any incident report filed with the property owner or business
- Medical records from Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital or any provider you saw
- Clothing or footwear worn at the time, unwashed and unaltered
Handling Wheat Ridge Premises Cases
We represent injured people from across Wheat Ridge, including areas near I-70, Wadsworth Boulevard, Kipling Street, West 38th Avenue, and neighboring Arvada. These claims involve grocery stores, apartment complexes, restaurants, and private homes throughout Jefferson County, and each one turns on the specific relationship between our client and the property owner.
When a Wheat Ridge premises case needs to go to court, it's typically filed in the Jefferson County Courts in Golden. Our office is based in Denver, and we regularly handle claims and litigation throughout Jefferson County for clients who live or were injured in Wheat Ridge.
Damages We Pursue
- Medical bills and anticipated future treatment
- Lost income from time away from work
- Pain and suffering from the injury
- Reduced earning capacity if the injury affects long-term work ability
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to recovery, like transportation to appointments
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Wheat Ridge — 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.
Wheat Ridge Colorado premises liability law FAQ
Does it matter whether I was invited onto the property?
Yes. Colorado law sets a different duty depending on whether you were an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser. That classification affects what the landowner had to do to keep you safe and what we need to prove.
I was a guest at a friend's house in Wheat Ridge, not a paying customer. Does that change my case?
It can. As a licensee, the duty owed to you is narrower than what's owed to a store customer. We look at whether the landowner created the hazard and knew about it, or knew about an unusual danger and failed to warn you.
Can I still have a claim if I was trespassing?
It's possible, but limited. Colorado law allows recovery only for damages a landowner caused willfully or deliberately, so these cases require a close look at the specific facts.
What if the store or property owner says they didn't know about the hazard?
That's often the central dispute in these cases. We gather evidence of prior complaints, maintenance history, and how long the condition may have existed to show what the owner knew or should have known.
Where would my case be handled if it goes to court?
Wheat Ridge premises cases typically fall under Jefferson County, and litigation is generally handled through the Jefferson County Courts in Golden. Our team is based in Denver and handles these matters throughout the county.
Discuss a Wheat Ridge premises injury
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.