Colorado's Premises Liability Act
In most states, slip and fall claims fall under general negligence. Colorado has a specific statute — the Colorado Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-115) — that is the exclusive remedy against landowners. It sorts injured people into three categories:
- Invitee (customers, business visitors): the landowner must protect against dangers they knew or should have known about. The strongest position.
- Licensee (social guests): protection only against dangers the landowner actually knew about.
- Trespasser: recovery only for a landowner's willful or deliberate harm — very hard to win.
Common Denver slip-and-fall scenarios
- Icy sidewalks that weren't cleared within a reasonable time.
- Wet grocery store floors without warning signs.
- Broken stairs, loose handrails, and poor lighting in apartment complexes.
- Parking lot potholes and unmarked curbs.
Evidence that wins these cases
- Photos of the hazard the day it happened.
- Incident report filed with the business or property manager.
- Witness names and contact info.
- Weather records and prior-complaint records (obtainable in discovery).
- Video surveillance — request preservation immediately.
What to look for in a lawyer
- Genuine premises liability experience under Colorado's statute.
- Willingness to send preservation letters for video within days.
- Realistic case assessment — many slip-and-falls are hard to prove.