Over a million slip and fall injuries are reported each year in the U.S. Thousands, if not millions, of pedestrian injuries in the U.S. go unreported. Many pedestrians slip and fall in public, usually around a lot of people, and are too embarrassed to bring any further attention to themselves by making a fuss at that particular moment. Oftentimes they don’t think of pressing legal action until they experience physical aftereffects days or weeks later, when their recollection of the accident is not as clear or the hazards that let to accident have been cleared. If you were injured in a slip or fall or suffered other pedestrian injuries in Colorado, you should meet with a Colorado personal injury attorney to explore your legal options, even if filing a lawsuit is the farthest thing from your mind.
Colorado Premises Liability Statute
In Colorado, a landowner’s liability for a pedestrian injury on his property depends on whether or not the injured party was trespassing, a licensee or someone who was invited onto the premises. A pedestrian who was trespassing may only recover for damages the landowner deliberately or willfully caused. A licensee may only recover for damages caused by hazards on the property that the landowners was aware of but did not warn the licensee about. A property owner may also be liable for pedestrian injuries to a licensee if they were aware of hazards but did nothing to make their property safe. An invitee may only recover damages in the event the landowner failed to exercise care to protect against dangers he was aware of or should have been aware of. The personal injury attorneys at O’Connell Law Firm, P.C., will be able to look at the circumstances of your pedestrian accident and determine which category of law applies in your case.
Landowner Responsibility
It is a landowner’s responsibility to inform pedestrians, as well as passersby, guests and customers of any potential dangers on his property. If these individual elect to enter his property despite the warnings, they assume some of the risk. Some of the incidents a landowner may be held liable for, depending on the circumstances, include:
- Slip/Trip and fall accidents
- Dog or other animal attacks
- Unmarked sinkholes on construction sites
- Defects on walkways or floors
- Unshoveled or unsalted snowy or icy public walkways
Damages
Letting an experienced Colorado personal injury attorney handle your pedestrian injury claim will increase the likelihood of getting a larger settlement. You may be entitled to compensation for loss of wages or earning capacity, pain and suffering, medical and hospital costs, and future expected economic losses or future medical treatment for injuries.
A Colorado Personal Injury Attorney Who Can Help
The personal injury attorneys at the O’Connell Law Firm, P.C., bring 40 years of experience in law and complex negotiation to every pedestrian injury case they handle. They will work to make sure landowners and other responsible parties are held accountable for their actions, while getting you the most possible compensation for your injuries. Contact their office for a free initial consultation.
