Thornton Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

Mintz Law Firm holds property owners and businesses accountable when they fail that duty, the same standard behind every injury case we handle in Thornton, and a Thornton slip-and-fall lawyer on our team can start investigating your case today.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Colorado Premises Liability Claim?

Colorado’s Premises Liability Act, C.R.S. § 13-21-115, holds property owners responsible for injuries caused by a dangerous condition they knew about, or should have known about, and failed to fix or adequately warn visitors about. The specific duty owed can depend on why you were on the property. The statute distinguishes between invitees, such as customers, and licensees, with property owners generally owing the highest duty of care to invitees. As winter approaches, that duty extends squarely to snow and ice removal, and a property owner who lets a walkway ice over without salting or shoveling it can be held liable for a fall that results.

Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Thornton

Frequent causes of Thornton slip-and-fall claims include:

• Winter hazards: unshoveled or unsalted sidewalks and parking lots during the winter months.
• Wet floors: in stores and restaurants left without a warning sign.
• Pavement defects: uneven or broken pavement, potholes, and unmarked curbs.
• Flooring hazards: loose flooring, carpeting, or mats that create a tripping hazard.
• Poor lighting: in stairwells, parking structures, and building entrances.
• Loose animals: a loose or aggressive dog knocking you down in a public space; if a dog bite was involved too, see our Thornton dog bite page.

Documenting exactly which hazard caused your fall, with photos if possible, strengthens a claim considerably.

Common Slip-and-Fall Injuries

Falls that seem minor at first can result in serious, lasting injuries, including hip and pelvic fractures, wrist and arm fractures from breaking a fall, herniated discs and other spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries from striking the head on the ground or a hard surface.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

Liability in a Thornton slip-and-fall claim can extend beyond the property’s owner. A commercial tenant or business operator responsible for day-to-day upkeep, a property management company hired to maintain the premises, or a homeowners’ association responsible for common areas can all potentially share responsibility, depending on who controlled the area where the fall occurred. Falls on government-owned property, such as a municipal sidewalk, involve additional notice requirements and shorter deadlines, so it’s important to identify the property owner correctly and quickly.

Will You Still Be Compensated If You Were Partially at Fault?

Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule, C.R.S. § 13-21-111, allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the fall, as long as your share of fault is less than 50%. Property owners and their insurers often argue that a visitor should have seen the hazard or was distracted, in an effort to shift blame and reduce what they owe.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

A successful slip-and-fall claim in Thornton can cover medical treatment, physical therapy, lost wages during recovery, and pain and suffering. Serious falls involving hip fractures, spinal injuries, or head trauma often require ongoing care that should be factored into any settlement, which is why it’s important not to accept an early offer before your prognosis is clear.

We help injured Thornton residents from our Lakewood office, about 25 minutes away via I-70 East to I-25 North, and handle premises liability claims throughout Adams County.

Choose Mintz Law Firm for Your Thornton Slip-and-Fall Case

Mr. Staton and our premises liability team have recovered significant settlements for clients hurt by a property owner’s negligence, including a $1.2 million settlement for a client severely injured by a dangerous condition on someone else’s property. We know how to prove what a property owner knew and when.

Mintz Law Firm has fought for injured Coloradans for more than 35 years, and consultations are always free. Contact us today at (303) 462-2999 or through our contact form for a free consultation.