Colorado Springs Slip & Fall Attorneys

Slip & Fall Attorneys in Colorado Springs

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of serious injuries in Colorado Springs and throughout Colorado. While they might sound minor, these incidents can lead to broken bones, head injuries, spinal cord damage, and other life-altering consequences. Many occur because a property owner or manager failed to maintain safe conditions, allowing hazards to persist.

At Pribila and Fields, our experienced attorneys handle slip and fall injury claims underColorado premises liability laws. We understand how challenging it can be to recover physically, emotionally, and financially after an unexpected fall. Our goal is to hold negligent parties accountable and secure the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

When an injury occurs on someone else’s property because of a dangerous or hazardous condition, victims may be entitled to compensation by filing a premises liability claim. Under Colorado law, your rights depend on your legal status as a visitor, whether you are classified as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser.

Invitees are owed the highest duty of care. This category includes individuals on the property for the benefit of the owner or tenant, such as customers in a store. Property owners must use reasonable care to protect against hazards they know about or should have discovered through proper inspection.
Licensees are on the property for their own purposes, such as social guests in a private home. In these cases, owners must use reasonable care concerning known dangers and must warn about any existing hazards.
Trespassers are generally only entitled to compensation for injuries willfully or deliberately caused by the property owner. However, Colorado’s attractive nuisance doctrine creates an exception for some cases involving children, such as when a hazardous feature like a swimming pool or construction site draws them onto the property.

Our team is well-versed in these distinctions and will analyze your case to determine the applicable duty of care and how it was breached.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents in Colorado Springs can occur in nearly any type of environment, from busy retail stores and restaurants to residential homes and public spaces. While no property owner can prevent every possible mishap, Colorado law requires them to take reasonable steps to maintain their premises and address hazards in a timely manner. When they fail to meet this obligation, dangerous conditions can lead to serious injuries.

Some of the most common causes we encounter in slip and fall cases include:

Wet or slippery floors: Spills from beverages, cleaning solutions, or leaking pipes can quickly create hazardous conditions. In many commercial properties, freshly mopped floors without proper warning signs are a major cause of accidents. In Colorado Springs grocery stores, shopping malls, and restaurants, failing to promptly clean or warn of a spill can be grounds for a premises liability claim.
Icy or snowy walkways: Winter weather in Colorado Springs can create significant slip hazards. Property owners, including homeowners, business owners, and landlords, are expected to clear ice and snow from sidewalks, parking lots, and entryways within a reasonable time frame. When they neglect these duties, pedestrians can suffer serious injuries from falls on untreated surfaces.
Uneven surfaces: Cracked sidewalks, potholes in parking lots, loose floor tiles, and torn carpeting all increase the risk of tripping. These hazards are especially dangerous in areas with high foot traffic, such as shopping centers and office buildings in Colorado Springs, where maintenance should be performed regularly.
Poor lighting: Dim or burned-out lighting in hallways, staircases, and parking garages can make it difficult for visitors to see and avoid obstacles. Many slip and fall accidents happen because a hazard was present but simply wasn’t visible due to inadequate lighting.
Obstructed walkways: Boxes, electrical cords, merchandise displays, and construction materials left in walkways are tripping hazards that can easily be avoided with proper housekeeping. In commercial properties, failure to keep aisles and exits clear is a common source of liability.
Defective stairs or handrails: Missing, loose, or broken handrails and unstable steps significantly increase the risk of falling, particularly for elderly visitors or those with mobility challenges. Under Colorado law, property owners in Colorado Springs must repair these conditions or provide clear warnings until repairs are made.

Where Do Most Slip and Falls Happen?

Slip and fall incidents can occur in virtually any location, but some environments in Colorado Springs present a higher risk due to heavier foot traffic or environmental conditions:

Retail stores and supermarkets: Spilled liquids, dropped produce, and cluttered aisles are frequent culprits.
Restaurants and bars: Wet floors from drink spills, greasy surfaces near kitchens, and dim lighting can all contribute to falls.
Apartment complexes and rental properties: Poor maintenance of stairwells, hallways, and common areas often leads to tenant and guest injuries.
Office buildings: Entryways with slick tile floors, loose carpeting, or obstructed hallways can cause falls.
Public sidewalks and parks: Cracked pavement, tree roots, and icy patches are common in outdoor public spaces.
Parking lots and garages: Potholes, oil slicks, and poor lighting make these areas particularly dangerous.

Identifying both the location and the specific hazard that caused your fall is critical to proving negligence and holding the responsible party accountable. At Pribila and Fields, we carefully investigate these details to build a strong claim for compensation.

Common Injuries in Slip and Fall Accidents

While some slip and fall accidents in Colorado Springs cause only minor bruises or scrapes, many result in severe, life-changing injuries that require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and, in some cases, lifelong care. The severity of a fall often depends on the height from which the person fell, the surface they landed on, their age, and their overall health. Unfortunately, even a seemingly simple trip can have devastating consequences.

At Pribila and Fields, we have represented clients suffering from a wide range of injuries, including:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): A sudden impact to the head can lead to concussions, cognitive impairments, memory loss, and long-term neurological problems. TBIs may require ongoing medical monitoring, therapy, and, in severe cases, permanent lifestyle changes.
Spinal cord injuries: A slip and fall can result in partial or complete paralysis, drastically altering a victim’s independence and quality of life. These injuries often involve significant medical expenses for surgeries, adaptive equipment, and specialized care facilities.
Broken bones and fractures: Falls frequently cause fractures in the hips, wrists, ankles, and arms. OurColorado broken bone and internal injury attorneys ensure that your claim fully reflects the costs of surgery, rehabilitation, and the potential for long-term mobility limitations.
Severe sprains and ligament injuries: Torn ligaments in the ankles, knees, or shoulders can be incredibly painful and may take months to heal, especially for physically active individuals or those whose work involves manual labor.
Internal injuries: Damage to organs such as the liver, spleen, or kidneys may not be visible at first but can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Internal bleeding is particularly dangerous after a fall.
Facial injuries: Forward falls can result in broken noses, dental trauma, jaw fractures, and visible scarring. These injuries often require reconstructive surgery or cosmetic treatment.

In the most tragic cases, slip and fall accidents can be fatal. If your family has lost a loved one due to a property owner’s negligence, ourColorado Springs wrongful death attorneys can help you seek justice and financial security during this difficult time.

Determining Liability in Colorado Springs Slip and Fall Injury Claims

Proving liability in a slip and fall case is not always straightforward. In Colorado Springs, you must establish that the property owner or manager failed to take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe and that this negligence directly caused your injury. This process requires a careful and strategic approach, especially since insurance companies often work hard to deny or minimize valid claims.

To succeed, we must demonstrate:

A hazardous condition existed on the property: Examples include wet floors, uneven surfaces, broken steps, or icy walkways.
The property owner knew or should have known about the hazard: Regular inspections and maintenance are part of a property owner’s duty of care.
The owner failed to address the condition in a timely and reasonable manner: This might include failing to clean a spill, repair broken stairs, or remove ice after a storm.
This failure directly caused your injury: We connect the unsafe condition to your accident through evidence and expert testimony.

Our attorneys at Pribila and Fields can help conduct a thorough investigation that often includes:

Reviewing accident reports and maintenance records to identify whether hazards were documented and ignored.
Analyzing security camera footage to capture the conditions at the time of the incident.
Interviewing witnesses who can confirm the presence of a hazard or the lack of warning signs.
Consulting safety experts to provide professional opinions on whether the property owner acted reasonably.
Examining weather reports for cases involving ice or snow to establish when hazards formed and whether removal was prompt.

If an insurance company attempts to wrongfully deny your claim or offers an unreasonably low settlement, ourColorado Springs insurance bad faith attorneys will take swift and decisive legal action to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.

Slip and Fall Injuries Among Older Adults

Older adults in Colorado Springs face a heightened risk of serious injury from slip and fall accidents. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among adults over 65. Reduced balance, slower reflexes, and fragile bones make falls more likely and injuries more severe.

For seniors in Colorado Springs, a broken hip or head injury can lead to lengthy hospital stays, diminished independence, and costly long-term care. Property owners must be especially vigilant in maintaining safe conditions in areas frequented by older adults, such as nursing homes, medical facilities, and community centers. When negligence in these settings causes harm, victims and their families have the right to seek compensation.

How Can an Attorney Help After a Slip and Fall Injury in Colorado Springs?

Slip and fall cases in Colorado Springs are rarely as simple as they seem. Property owners and their insurance companies often try to shift the blame onto the injured person, arguing that they were not paying attention or that the hazard was “open and obvious” and should have been avoided. These defenses can be difficult to overcome without a knowledgeable legal team on your side.

At Pribila and Fields, we understand these tactics and know how to counter them effectively. We conduct a comprehensive investigation into every case, gathering the evidence needed to prove negligence and strengthen your claim. This can include interviewing witnesses, reviewing security footage, examining maintenance logs, and working with safety experts to establish exactly how the hazardous condition caused your injury.

We also handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies so you can focus on your recovery. Our experience allows us to anticipate and respond to the strategies insurers use to undervalue claims, ensuring you have a strong advocate in your corner at every stage.

What Compensation Is Available?

We work tirelessly to pursue the maximum compensation available under Colorado law, which can include:

Medical bills (current and future): Covering emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any necessary medical equipment.
Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity: Compensation for the income you missed while recovering and for any reduction in your ability to work in the future.
Pain and suffering: Recognizing the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injury.
Costs of rehabilitation and mobility aids: Including wheelchairs, walkers, prosthetics, or home modifications to accommodate mobility limitations.
Property damage: Reimbursement for damaged personal belongings, such as broken glasses, cell phones, or other valuables.
Funeral and burial expenses: In wrongful death cases, we help surviving family members recover costs and seek justice through our Colorado Springs wrongful death attorneys.

Why Choose Pribila and Fields?

There are many personal injury firms in Colorado, but Pribila and Fields stands out for our commitment to results and client care:

Local expertise: We are deeply familiar with the courts, local insurance adjusters, and common accident scenarios unique to Colorado Springs.
Proven results: Our attorneys have secured significant settlements and verdicts in slip and fall and other injury cases.
Client-centered service: We prioritize open communication, compassion, and personalized attention.
Trial readiness: We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, which often leads to stronger settlement offers from insurers.

Additional Legal Services

In addition to slip and fall claims, our firm represents clients in a wide range of personal injury cases throughout Colorado Springs, including:

Whether you are recovering from a motor vehicle accident, a fall on dangerous property, or another type of personal injury in Colorado Springs, we bring the same level of dedication and aggressive advocacy to every case.

Contact Pribila and Fields After a Colorado Springs Slip and Fall Accident

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident in Colorado Springs, don’t wait to seek legal help. Prompt action allows us to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and strengthen your claim before key details are lost. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping you recover physically, emotionally, and financially after a serious fall.

Call Pribila and Fields today at (719) 888-3720 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Colorado Springs law determine liability in slip & fall cases?

Liability in slip & fall cases hinges on the status of the visitor (invitee, licensee, trespasser) and the property owner's duty of care towards them. A slip & fall attorney at Pribila & Fields can help navigate these complexities and determine if you have a claim based on your specific situation.

What are common causes of slip and fall accidents our lawyers handle?

Our slip & fall lawyers often deal with accidents caused by wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and other hazardous conditions. No matter how your accident occurred in Colorado Springs, we're here to assess your case.

What is the deadline to file a slip and fall case in Colorado Springs, and are there shorter deadlines on government property?

Most Colorado slip and fall lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the injury. If the fall happened on property owned or operated by a public entity, you may have only 182 days to send a written notice of claim. These timelines are separate, so you often must send the government notice first and still meet the lawsuit deadline. Failing to give timely notice can permanently bar a claim against a public entity. Because responsibility can be unclear at first, quick investigation helps determine whether a city, county, or state agency is involved. Act fast so your attorney can meet both the notice and filing timelines.

How does Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule affect slip and fall compensation?

Colorado reduces your damages by your percentage of fault if you share blame for the fall. You can still recover if you were less than 50 percent at fault, but recovery is barred at 50 percent or more. Insurers may argue you ignored warning signs, wore unsafe footwear, or missed obvious hazards. Your attorney counters with evidence like inspection logs, incident reports, and surveillance showing the landowner failed to act reasonably. Photographs, weather data, and witness statements help establish what was visible and when the hazard developed. The goal is to keep your assigned fault under the 50 percent threshold and maximize your net recovery.

Can I bring a claim for injuries from ice or snow that a business failed to remove?

Yes, Colorado’s Premises Liability Act allows claims against landowners who fail to use reasonable care for invitees, including addressing dangerous accumulations of ice and snow. A landowner’s duty includes reasonable inspections and timely mitigation based on weather and foot traffic. Liability depends on what the owner knew or should have known about the hazard and whether corrective steps were feasible. Evidence such as maintenance schedules and snow removal contracts can be vital to proving negligence. Promptly reporting the incident and preserving footwear and photos can strengthen your claim. Your lawyer will apply the statute to the facts to show the business did not act reasonably under the conditions.

How can I get started with a slip & fall lawyer in Colorado Springs?

Beginning your legal journey after a slip and fall accident is straightforward. Simply reach out to us, and we'll schedule a time to discuss your case, ensuring personalized and comprehensive legal support.

Additional Resources in Colorado Springs, Colorado

SafetySign - 10 Steps to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls: Resource provides practical steps to reduce slip, trip, and fall hazards in the workplace, highlighting the significance of employee training and proper equipment use.

SafetyCulture - How to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls: Offers a detailed guide on preventing slips, trips, and falls in various environments, emphasizing the importance of good housekeeping, adequate lighting, and the use of safety signs to mitigate risks

National Floor Safety Institute - Consumer Resources for Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls: NFSI provides a comprehensive list of resources, tips, and guides to help consumers understand the risks and prevention methods for falls, tailored to the needs of households and individuals.

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