Protecting Your Rights After a Serious Injury in Larimer County
Slip and fall accidents can lead to painful injuries, long-term recovery needs, and unexpected medical expenses. While Colorado’s premises liability laws allow injured people to hold negligent parties accountable, seeking compensation involves gathering compelling evidence and executing a strong legal strategy.
Reach out to our law firm for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call our personal injury lawyers in the state of Colorado at (303) 999-9999 or contact us online.
At Boesen Law, we have established ourselves as a trusted Fort Collins slip and fall lawyer for victims across the Front Range. We have spent over a decade helping clients take legal action after serious falls. We investigate what went wrong, secure evidence before it fades, and handle negotiations with insurers who try to shift blame or minimize payouts. If you need a Fort Collins premises liability lawyer who understands the nuances of local ordinances and state statutes, our team is ready to fight for you.
Injured After a Slip and Fall in Fort Collins? How an Expert Lawyer Helps You Know If You Have a Case
Many people view slips and falls as simple accidents, but property owners must maintain safe conditions for lawful visitors. Whether it is black ice on an unshoveled sidewalk near Old Town Square, a spilled drink left unmopped in a grocery aisle at King Soopers, or a broken stair railing in a student apartment complex near Colorado State University (CSU), these hazards can form the basis of a claim.
To establish liability, our slip and fall law firm in Fort Collins thoroughly investigates by examining surveillance footage, maintenance logs, and witness statements. We aim to prove the property owner had “constructive knowledge” – meaning they knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
During a free consultation, a Fort Collins slip and fall accident lawyer at our firm can assess your case’s viability. If you are unsure about moving forward, schedule a consultation and ask all the questions you need.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Fall
Building a strong case starts the moment the accident happens. If you are physically able, our Fort Collins slip and fall attorneys recommend taking the following steps to protect your claim:
- Seek Medical Attention: Visit a local emergency room like UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital or an urgent care center immediately. Documenting your injuries links them directly to the accident.
- Report the Incident: Notify the store manager, landlord, or property owner. Request that an official incident report be filed and ask for a copy.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the hazard (ice, water, uneven concrete) from multiple angles. Conditions can change quickly, especially with weather-related hazards.
- Identify Witnesses: Collect names and phone numbers of anyone who saw you fall.
- Preserve Evidence: Keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing, as they may become evidence regarding your own duty of care.
Liability and Colorado’s Premises Liability Laws
Under C.R.S. § 13-21-115, also known as the Colorado Premises Liability Act (CPLA), your Fort Collins slip and fall attorney will evaluate your status on the property to determine the duty of care owed to you:
- Invitees (Business Customers/Public Visitors): This includes shoppers at Foothills Mall or patrons at a restaurant. Owners must exercise reasonable care to inspect for hazards, fix them promptly, or provide clear warnings.
- Licensees (Social Guests): If you are visiting a friend’s rental home or condo, owners must address or warn about known dangers but do not necessarily have a duty to inspect for unknown ones.
- Trespassers: Owners generally owe no duty except to avoid willful or intentional harm.
Our Fort Collins slip and fall accident law firm understands Colorado’s modified comparative fault rule. If a jury finds you were partially responsible (e.g., looking at your phone), your compensation could be reduced. We work to minimize any assignment of fault to you while maximizing your recovery.
Snow, Ice, and Local Ordinances in Fort Collins
Winter weather in Northern Colorado is a leading cause of injuries. Property owners have a specific timeframe to clear snow and ice. For example, the City of Fort Collins Municipal Code generally requires snow to be cleared from public sidewalks adjacent to a property within 24 hours of accumulation.
However, commercial property owners often have a higher standard of care to keep high-traffic areas safe. If you slipped on black ice in a parking lot or on an untreated walkway, our slip and fall attorneys in Fort Collins can investigate if the property management company failed to adhere to their snow removal contracts or local safety standards.
Common Places Where Slips and Falls Happen
We handle cases occurring in everyday locations where negligence creates hazards. A Fort Collins slip and fall accident attorney from our team can assist with accidents at:
- Retail stores and supermarkets: Spills, trailing cords, or falling merchandise.
- Parking lots and sidewalks: Potholes, cracked pavement, and ice accumulation.
- Apartment buildings and rental homes: Loose carpeting, poor lighting in stairwells, or defective handrails.
- Public property and school grounds: Accidents involving government entities, such as the City of Fort Collins or school districts, require strict adherence to the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA), which mandates filing a notice of claim within 182 days.
Types of Injuries Victims May Experience
While older adults are susceptible to hip fractures, slip and fall accidents can cause catastrophic injuries to victims of any age. As a dedicated slip and fall accident law firm in Fort Collins, we frequently represent clients suffering from:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: Concussions and subdural hematomas caused by striking the head on hard surfaces.
- Orthopedic Injuries: Compound fractures requiring surgery (wrist, ankle, hip).
- Soft Tissue Damage: Torn ligaments, meniscus tears, or rotator cuff injuries.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Herniated discs, nerve damage, or chronic back pain requiring physical therapy or steroid injections.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
When you work with a Fort Collins slip and fall law firm like ours, we explain the damages available under Colorado law:
- Economic Damages: Medical bills (ER, surgery, chiropractic care), lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity.
- Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical impairment.
- Permanent Disability: Compensation for long-term accommodations if you cannot return to your previous lifestyle.
Statute of Limitations: Don’t Wait to File
Under C.R.S. § 13-80-102, you generally have two years from the incident’s date to file a civil lawsuit. However, delays can be detrimental. Surveillance footage is often overwritten within days, and witnesses move away. Acting quickly allows your Fort Collins slip and fall lawyer to issue preservation letters to stop evidence destruction.
Common Defenses Insurance Companies Use to Deny Claims
One of the biggest challenges in premises liability cases is that insurance adjusters are trained to protect their company’s bottom line, not your health. When you file a claim, they will often aggressively argue that their policyholder is not liable. Understanding these tactics is crucial for your Fort Collins slip and fall lawyer to build a counter-strategy. The most common defenses include:
- The “Open and Obvious” Doctrine: The defense may argue that the hazard (like a large pothole or a bright yellow spill) was so visible that a reasonable person would have avoided it.
- Lack of Notice: Property owners often claim they didn’t have enough time to discover or fix the issue. For example, if a spill happened only 5 minutes before you fell, they might argue they couldn’t reasonably have known about it.
- Blaming the Victim (Comparative Negligence): They may allege you were distracted by your phone, wearing inappropriate footwear for the weather (like smooth-soled shoes on an icy Fort Collins sidewalk), or walking in an unauthorized area.
- Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurers often demand access to your full medical history to argue that your back or knee pain is from an old injury, not the recent fall.
At Boesen Law, we anticipate these defenses. By securing surveillance footage, maintenance logs, and witness testimony early, we dismantle these arguments to prove that the property owner’s negligence was the primary cause of your injury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accidents
If I slipped on snow or ice in Fort Collins, can I still sue?
Yes, but it depends on the timing. Colorado property owners generally have a reasonable amount of time to clear snow after a storm ends. However, if they allowed ice to build up unnaturally (like a gutter draining onto a walkway) or failed to salt a high-traffic area long after the snow stopped, you likely have a valid claim.
The store had a “Wet Floor” sign up. Does that mean I can’t recover damages?
Not necessarily. While a sign is a warning, it does not absolve the owner of all liability. If the sign was placed in a hard-to-see location, or if the hazard blocked the only exit forcing you to walk through it, the owner may still be liable. A Fort Collins slip and fall attorney can evaluate if the warning was “adequate” under the law.
How much does it cost to hire a slip and fall lawyer?
Most reputable firms, including Boesen Law, operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay $0 upfront. We cover the costs of investigation and filing. We only get paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict if we successfully win your case. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing for our fees.
What if I was partially at fault for my fall?
Colorado follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. You can still recover compensation as long as you were less than 50% at fault. However, your payout will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a jury awards you $100,000 but finds you 20% at fault for texting while walking, you would receive $80,000.
Should I speak to the insurance adjuster on my own?
No. Insurance adjusters often try to record statements to use against you later. They may ask leading questions to make you admit fault or downplay your injuries. It is safest to decline their request for a recorded statement and direct them to your attorney.
How long does a slip and fall settlement take?
Every case is different. Simple claims with clear liability might settle in 4 to 8 months. However, cases involving severe injuries, disputed liability, or government entities can take 18 months or longer. We strive to resolve cases efficiently but will not recommend accepting a lowball offer just to close the case quickly.
Contact Us Today: A Fort Collins Slip and Fall Attorney Ready to Fight for You
Slip and fall cases hinge on details: how long a spill sat unaddressed, the number of prior complaints about a broken step, or the medical report connecting your symptoms to the fall. Boesen Law digs for these facts, builds a strong case, and pushes back when insurance adjusters try to devalue your claim.
Don’t let a property owner’s negligence cost you your health or savings. Contact us for a free case review with a Fort Collins slip and fall accident attorney. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless we recover damages for you.
Reach out to our law firm for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call our personal injury lawyers in the state of Colorado at (303) 999-9999 or contact us online.
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