Thornton Premises Liability Lawyer

Premises liability laws allow those who sustain injuries on a negligent property owner’s land to recover compensation for their damages. These injuries can be painful and expensive, resulting in medical bills, long-term treatment, and missed work in severe cases.

If someone’s negligence caused you to be harmed in an accident on their property, contact an injury attorney immediately. A Thornton premises liability lawyer could help you recover the compensation you need and deserve and allow you to focus on rest and recovery.

Types of Premises Liability Claims

The most common instances of premises liability injuries are slip and fall cases. However, injury claims can also arise from:

• Poorly maintained walkways
• Exposed electrical equipment
• Construction accidents
• Structural defects

The commonality in premises liability cases is landowners’ failure to maintain their property. When this negligence results in harm to visitors, the injured parties have the right to financial compensation. An experienced attorney could examine the unique facts of a premises liability case to determine liability and pursue an injury claim.

The Role of Comparative Negligence in Premises Liability Cases

Thornton follows modified comparative negligence rules, under Colorado Revised Statutes §13-21-111. With comparative negligence, if the injured party’s own negligence played a part in their accident, the court will subtract the portion they are liable for from the total monetary amount they recover. This means that if an injured party contributed at all to their accident, the potential financial compensation they are entitled to would be reduced accordingly.

The comparative negligence calculations are complex and can be challenging to understand. A seasoned premises liability attorney in Thornton could help an individual refute their alleged degree of responsibility in an accident and maximize the monetary amount they may be entitled to.

The Duty of the Property Owner Depends on the Type of Visitor

The landowner or person in possession of the property owes a different level of duty of care to individuals depending on their legal status while visiting the property. The three types of property visitors are invitees, licensees, and trespassers.

Invitee

An invitee is someone that was invited onto a property, either by express or implied invite, for the owner’s benefit. Invitees are usually on the property for business purposes. The owner of the property owes these guests the highest duty of care. If an invitee sustains an injury while on the property because the property owner failed to exercise reasonable care of responsibility, a court could award the victim compensation for damages.

Licensee

The licensee is an individual that was invited onto a property for non-business purposes, such as a neighbor or other social guest. A property owner owes licensees a reasonable duty of care. If there are hazards on the property that the property owner should have known about and a licensee suffers an injury, they could be entitled to monetary compensation.

Trespasser

Those who enter a property without permission are known as trespassers. A court is not likely to award compensation for damages if a trespasser sustains an injury on another person’s property except under particular circumstances. If a minor enters a property because the landowner left it unsecured, a court may award damages for the child’s injuries.

It can be tricky to differentiate between the different types of visitors. A knowledgeable property injury attorney in Thornton could help an injured party determine their legal status as a visitor.

Speak with a Thornton Premises Liability Attorney about Your Case

You should be able to visit properties without fearing for your safety. However, this is not always the case. If you sustained injuries on someone’s property because of their negligence, a dedicated Thornton premises liability lawyer could help you seek the compensation you deserve. A skilled attorney could put forth the effort necessary to investigate every aspect of the claim to get the maximum payout possible for your damages. Call today to get started.