Thornton Slip and Fall Lawyer  

Slip and fall accidents can result in mere scrapes and bruises to serious conditions such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries (SCIs), and broken bones. Whatever the injury, chances are that someone may have been negligent in maintaining a property or providing adequate warning about a dangerous condition.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact a Thornton slip and fall lawyer to discuss your situation, review your legal options, and determine the best course of action for you. Contact a qualified legal advocate and know that you are in good hands. En Español.

Establishing Liability in a Slip and Fall Claim

Liability in a Colorado slip and fall accident generally depends on where the accident occurred and why the injured party was on the property.

The law differentiates between whether a property owner (or whoever has control over the property) owes someone a duty to keep the premises safe or to warn them about known dangers. Essentially, anyone on someone else’s property is either an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser:

Who Qualifies as an Invitee?

Invitees are essentially invited guests. These generally include friends, family, and neighbors who have either specifically been invited to the property (for example, to attend a party on a specific date) or those whose presence is impliedly accepted (for example, inviting someone to stop by if they are in the neighborhood). In these situations, whoever controls the property has a duty to keep the property reasonably safe.

Licensees

Licensees are essentially anyone who in on the property for their own financial purposes. These generally include house maintenance people and contractors who have express or implied permission from the owner, tenant, or person controlling the property to enter it. However, in these situations, the person in control of the property has a lesser duty and merely has to warn of dangerous conditions that may create an unreasonable risk of harm.

Trespassers

Trespassers are those who have no permission to be on the property at all. While there is generally no duty created to warn of dangerous conditions, children are an exception. In these situations, whoever controls the property must warn children of potentially dangerous situations that exist in which children might be attracted (such as an in-ground swimming pool whose surrounding fence has fallen down). In other words, if it is reasonably foreseeable that a child must be curious about a condition, then there is a duty to warn.

Why is it Important to Obtain Medical Care?

Many slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries requiring emergency room and hospital visits which can result in lost wages, medical bills, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. A Thornton slip and fall lawyer can help determine who may have been responsible for any injuries sustained, whether continued medical monitoring may be needed, and the types of compensation which may be available.

Contacting a Thornton Slip and Fall Attorney

Anyone who has been injured on someone else’s property should contact an experienced Thornton slip and fall lawyer before deciding to settle the matter with an insurance company. Keep in mind that insurance companies would rather pay as little as possible – if anything at all.

That is where a slip and fall attorney can help the most by making sure someone is looking out for their best interests and refusing to settle until they know the full extent of their injuries. Your future is too important to not explore all of the legal options available to you.