Denver Slip and Fall Lawyer

Denver is full of dangers all year round. In January, ice covers sidewalks in Cherry Creek. In July, pool decks can be slippery. Ski resort lines get icy, and grocery store aisles on Colfax can be wet without any warning signs. A fall can cause serious injuries, like broken bones or head injuries, in just a second. It isn’t your fault when a property owner leaves a danger where you are supposed to be walking. It feels unfair to deal with medical bills while an insurance agent ignores what happened. You shouldn’t have to face this alone. A Denver personal injury lawyer can fight for you.

• More than 20 years in the fight: Levine Law founder Jordan S. Levine has spent over two decades representing injured Coloradans, and our Denver team carries that work forward. Get to know the firm and the attorneys who would handle your case.
• A record in serious-injury cases: Levine Law has secured multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for badly hurt clients, and our client reviews speak to how we treat the people behind those numbers.
• Premises law is our lane: A slip and fall is a premises liability case at heart — it rises or falls on a property owner’s duty to keep the place safe. We take these on across the Front Range with no money down. You owe a fee only if we win.
• Talk to us for free: Reach our Denver office at 303-333-8000 for a no-cost review, and see the awards and recognition our attorneys have earned.

One thing to keep in mind: a Colorado slip and fall usually has to be filed within two years under C.R.S. § 13-80-102 — a year less than the deadline for a car crash. Moving early protects both your claim and the proof it depends on, like the incident report and any surveillance video.

What should you do immediately after a slip and fall in Denver?

Report the fall, get medical care, and take pictures before anyone cleans up the accident site. If you are in a store or in an apartment building, ask a manager to write an incident report and give you a copy. That report is often the first piece of evidence in your claim.

What you do in the first hour can significantly affect the strength of your claim. To protect your rights:

• Report it in writing. Tell the store manager, landlord, or property manager. Ask for a written incident report and get the name of the person you spoke with.
• Photograph the exact hazard — the puddle, the ice, the torn mat, the broken stair. Do it before someone mops, salts, or fixes it. Hazardous conditions are often cleaned, repaired, or altered shortly after an incident. 
• See a doctor right away. Serious falls send Denver patients to Denver Health Medical Center, the region’s top trauma center. Early records link a broken hip or head injury to the fall.
• Keep your shoes and clothing as they are, and get witness names. Independent witnesses matter most when your account and the property owner’s account do not match — a common problem once money is at stake. If you fell on a public sidewalk or in a City building, the Denver Police Department may document it, and a government-claim deadline may apply.

  

What actually happens after a slip and fall in Denver?

The evidence disappears much faster than most people expect. Stores often record over their surveillance video within days or weeks. Spills get mopped. Ice melts. So the thing that caused your fall may be gone before you ever call a lawyer.

Insurance companies, on the other hand, move fast. An adjuster or risk manager may call within a day or two. They may ask for a recorded statement or hint that you were not watching where you walked. Anything you say early — before you know how badly you are hurt — can be used later to shift blame onto you. It is fine to give only the basic facts and to say no to a recorded statement until you have talked to a lawyer. A quick evidence-preservation letter — a formal request to save the proof — can stop a business from erasing the video that helps your case.

What are the most common causes of slip and fall accidents in Denver?

Most Denver falls come from a hazard the property owner did not fix or warn about in time. Colorado’s freeze-and-thaw winters make ice one of the most common causes, and one of the most fought-over. The usual culprits:

• Snow and ice on entrances, walkways, and parking lots. Denver Revised Municipal Code § 49-551 requires owners and occupants to clear snow and ice from adjoining sidewalks immediately after every snowfall. Once the city issues a notice, a business has four hours to comply and a home has twenty-four. A storefront on Larimer Square or 16th Street that leaves its walk glazed has broken a written duty, and that failure can support a claim.
• Wet or freshly mopped floors with no warning signs — like wet floors in grocery aisles on Colfax Avenue, restaurant entrances in RiNo, or office building lobbies downtown where snow melts off shoes.
• Swimming pool decks and wet surrounds. Apartment and hotel pools across Capitol Hill and Cherry Creek turn slick in summer, and pool owners must keep the deck reasonably safe and guard against unsupervised access.
• Uneven or broken surfaces — cracked sidewalks in older neighborhoods like Baker and Five Points, potholes in parking garages, and loose or torn floor mats.
• Poor lighting and bad stairs — dark stairwells, broken handrails, and uneven steps in apartment buildings, RTD parking structures, and converted LoDo warehouses.

Weather is a major factor in these accidents. In Denver, snow often melts during the day and freezes again at night. This means a shopping trip in Cherry Creek North or a walk to a train platform at Union Station can quickly become dangerous if a business doesn’t clear the ice by its front door.

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What types of injuries are common in Denver slip and fall accidents?

Slip and fall injuries can range from simple sprains to severe, life-altering damage. Falls are also a leading cause of serious head injuries. The severity of your injury usually determines how long you need to recover and what your claim is worth. We most commonly see these injuries:

• Broken hips and pelvis, which are very serious for older adults and often need surgery and long rehab. Nearly 319,000 older Americans are hospitalized for hip fractures each year, and in 2019 falls caused 83% of hip fracture deaths.
• Broken wrists, arms, and shoulders from bracing during a fall.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — from concussions to lasting thinking and memory problems — when the head hits the floor, ice, or a stair edge. Falls are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injury.
• Spine and back injuries, which can cause long-term pain or partial paralysis.

Who gets hurt worst in a fall

The same hazardous condition can affect people differently depending on age, mobility, and underlying health. Seniors over 65 are at high risk. Each year, more than one in four older adults fall, leading to 3 million emergency room visits, according to CDC. A fall that only causes a bruise on a young person could cause an older adult to lose their independence.

Children also get hurt often, especially near stairs, pools, and playgrounds. Others at high risk include pregnant women, people who use walkers or canes, and anyone taking blood thinners. For them, a small bump on the head can cause serious internal bleeding. 

Insurance companies might try to blame an injury on your age or an old health problem instead of the fall. However, Colorado follows the eggshell plaintiff rule. This rule was confirmed by the Colorado Supreme Court in Schafer v. Hoffman, 831 P.2d 897 (Colo. 1992). It means a property owner is responsible for the full harm they caused, even if the victim was already frail. Doctors can use your medical records from before and after the fall to prove the accident caused your new injuries.

Injuries to the head or spine can get worse after a few days. Getting checked quickly at a hospital like Denver Health is the best way to protect your health and your legal claim.

Who is liable for a slip and fall in Denver?

The party at fault is the one that controlled the property and did not keep it reasonably safe. This is called premises liability — a property owner’s duty to keep the place safe. Under the Colorado Premises Liability Act, how much the owner owed you depends on why you were on the property when you got hurt. In Colorado, the judge decides which group you fall into, not the jury:

• Invitees — customers and the public invited onto a business. The owner must fix or warn about dangers it knew about or should have found with a reasonable check. This group gets the most protection.
• Licensees — social guests and others there with permission for their own reasons. The owner is only responsible for dangers it actually knew about and did not warn you about.
• Trespassers — people on the property without permission. The owner is only responsible for harm it caused on purpose.

The party at fault may be a store, a restaurant, an apartment complex or landlord, a property manager, or an HOA. If you fall on public property — a City of Denver building or a Regional Transportation District (RTD) station — a strict 182-day deadline applies. Under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, you must send the government written notice within 182 days.

Colorado also uses modified comparative negligence — a rule for how blame is split. If you are 49% or less at fault, your payment is cut by your share of the blame. At 50% or more, you get nothing. Because insurers know this, they often argue you should have seen the hazard.

Attorney insight: what makes Denver slip and fall cases complex?

Slip and fall cases depend on proving the property owner knew or should have known about a danger. This is more difficult than in typical injury claims.

What makes Denver slip and fall claims complex:

• The judge — not the jury — decides your visitor status. Under the Colorado Premises Liability Act, whether you were an invitee, licensee, or trespasser is a question of law, and that status sets how much the owner owed you. An invitee gets the most protection, so this ruling can shape the case before the facts are even weighed.
• Proving the owner had notice is the central fight. For an invitee, the owner is liable only for dangers it knew about or should have found with a reasonable inspection. Cleaning logs, inspection records, and how long the hazard sat there often determine whether that notice existed.
• Colorado’s winters add a “natural buildup” fight. Owners often argue that ice was a natural accumulation they had a reasonable time to clear, not a hazard they ignored. Storm timing, snow-removal records, and weather data become key proof in these disputes.
• The best evidence is short-lived and often controlled by the property owner. Surveillance video is often recorded over within days, and the hazard itself gets mopped, salted, or repaired. A prompt evidence-preservation letter and a copy of the incident report lock down proof before it disappears.
• Falls on public property carry a strict 182-day deadline. If you fell in a City of Denver building or an RTD station, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act requires written notice within 182 days. Miss it, and the claim is barred no matter how much of the two-year limit remains.

Being ready for trial means saving physical and digital evidence, working with medical and safety experts, documenting long-term effects, and preparing every case as if it may go before a jury.

What damages can you recover after a Denver slip and fall?

If you are hurt in a Colorado slip and fall, you may be able to get money for two types of losses. 

Economic damages cover the specific bills you have to pay. There is no limit on these. They include:

• Medical bills, including visits to the ER, doctors, and rehab.
• Wages you lost because you couldn’t work.
• Other out-of-pocket costs, like medical equipment or changes you need to make to your home.

Non-economic damages cover the human side of your injury. There is a legal limit on this amount. These damages are intended to address impacts such as:

• Pain and suffering, which covers the physical discomfort you feel.
• Emotional distress, which includes fear, anxiety, or trauma.
• Scarring or other visible changes to your body.
• Loss of companionship, which is the strain on your relationships with family.
• Loss of enjoyment, which is when you can no longer do the hobbies or daily activities you loved before the fall.

While non-economic losses are personal, they often lead to real expenses. For example, you might need therapy for trauma or medicine for pain. In Colorado, you can ask for economic damages to cover those costs, plus extra money for the pain and difficulty the fall has caused you.

Legal note on Colorado’s damage caps

For cases filed on or after January 1, 2025, Colorado raised the cap on non-economic (pain-and-suffering) damages to $1.5 million under HB 24-1472. That is a big jump from the old limit. Economic damages like medical bills and lost wages still have no cap. In cases of extreme or reckless behavior, you may also be able to recover punitive damages — extra money meant to punish the wrongdoer — under C.R.S. § 13-21-102. Careful records are what separate a fully valued claim from a lowball one.

How long do you have to file a slip and fall claim in Colorado?

You usually have two years from the date of your fall to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Colorado under C.R.S. § 13-80-102. This is the deadline for most injury claims. It is shorter than the three years Colorado gives for car crashes.

Do not assume you have three years just because you heard that number for car accidents. Slip and fall, premises liability, and most other injury claims follow the two-year rule. And talking with an insurer does not pause the clock — only filing a lawsuit stops it.

Pitfall alert: the 182-day deadline on public property

If you fell in a City of Denver building or park, at an RTD light-rail station, or on other government property, a much shorter clock applies. Under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, you must send written notice of your claim within 182 days of finding out about the injury. Miss it, and your claim is dead — no matter how much time is left on the two-year deadline.

Why do you need a slip and fall lawyer in Denver?

A lawyer helps balance the scales when you are dealing with insurance companies, as these companies often try to pay as little as they can. This is especially important in slip and fall cases. The biggest challenge is proving the property owner knew about the danger or should have known about it.

• Insurance companies care about saving money. They often claim the danger was easy to see, or that you just weren’t paying enough attention.
• They may try to get you to take a small, quick payment before you finish your medical treatment.
• Important proof—like security video, accident reports, and cleaning logs—is held by the property owner. It can be lost forever if you don’t act quickly to save it.

Opponent playbook

In falls at a Cherry Creek shopping center or a downtown parking garage, insurers often argue the ice or spill was obvious and a careful person would have avoided it. This is the “open and obvious” defense, aimed straight at Colorado’s 50% fault rule. Even a small share of blame cuts your payment. A lawyer fights back by grabbing the security video, the store’s incident report, snow-removal and inspection records, and witness accounts before that proof is lost or recorded over.

What does the slip and fall claim process look like?

Most claims follow the same path: a free consultation, an investigation, a demand and negotiation, and — if the insurer will not be fair — a lawsuit in Denver District Court.

1. Free consultation — we review the fall, the hazard, and your injuries.
2. Investigation — we gather the incident report, security video, photos, cleaning logs, medical records, and witness statements.
3. Demand and negotiation — we send a documented demand and negotiate with the property’s insurer.
4. Settlement or lawsuit — if talks stall, we file suit in the Second Judicial District (Denver District Court, 1437 Bannock St) and get ready for trial.

How long this takes depends on how serious the injuries are and how busy the court is.

How do you choose the right Denver slip and fall lawyer?

Look for real experience with property cases, knowledge of Denver courts and insurers, clear communication, and a firm that is truly ready for trial — not just marketing slogans.

• Does the firm have a relevant experience?

For over 20 years, Levine Law has helped injured people across the Denver metro area. The firm’s results include a $392,000 verdict (plus interest) for a tenant who broke her ankle on a defective staircase and a $960,000 settlement for a maintenance worker who slipped on ice. A real track record matters more than advertising.

• Do they know the local courts and insurers?

Choose a lawyer who knows how cases move through Denver District Court (Colorado’s Second Judicial District) and how Front Range insurers work. Founding partner Jordan S. Levine helped shape Colorado law on holding insurers accountable in Crowell v. ICAO — the same insurer accountability that drives slip and fall claims.

• Are they ready to go to trial?

The best settlements often come when the insurer knows your lawyer will go to trial. Levine Law’s attorneys hold an AV Preeminent rating — Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating for a lawyer’s legal ability and ethical standards — and have been recognized by Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers (each recognition reflects that group’s own standards).

• Are the fees clear?

Levine Law works on contingency — “No Win, No Fee”. You owe no attorney’s fee unless we recover for you, and consultations are free.

Client testimonials

Levine Law’s clients often describe steady communication and close attention after a serious injury.

“Sarah Freedman and Levine Law were outstanding in my slip and fall case. Though I wish the fall and broken hip never happened, I felt what I received more than compensated for my pain and suffering.” — Levine Law client, Lawyers.com review

You can read more verified reviews on our Levine Law Reviews page.

Disclaimer: Client reviews are individual experiences and are not a guarantee of any particular result.

Case results that reflect real experience

A bad fall is rarely just clumsiness — often a broken stair or an icy walkway is the real cause. Levine Law has won for people hurt in exactly those conditions:

• $392,000 verdict (plus interest) — a tenant fell on a defective interior staircase in her apartment and broke her ankle about 18 months into her lease. Her medical bills reached roughly $77,000, yet the insurer had offered only $500.
• $960,000 settlement — a maintenance manager slipped on the ice while opening a gate and needed back surgery.
• $80,000 settlement (plus $56,000 set aside for future care) — a fall broke the client’s ankle and required surgery to repair it.

More outcomes are listed on our Cases & Verdicts page.

Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case is decided on its own facts.

Areas served

Levine Law represents slip and fall victims throughout the Denver metro and Front Range, including:

• Aurora
• Lakewood
• Arvada
• Glendale
• Boulder
• Colorado Springs
• Fort Collins
• Loveland

We also handle related claims, including premises liability, sidewalk accidents, and traumatic brain injury.

Local resources

Hospitals & Emergency Care in Denver

• Denver Health Medical Center — the only Level I trauma center in the City of Denver; 777 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204
• Saint Joseph Hospital — 1375 E 19th Ave, Denver, CO 80218
• HCA HealthONE Rose Medical Center — 4567 E 9th Ave, Denver, CO 80220
• HCA HealthONE Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center — 1719 E 19th Ave, Denver, CO 80218

Agencies & records

• Denver Police Department Records — incident documentation; records line 720-913-6029

Courts

• Denver District Court (Second Judicial District) — City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80202

Disclaimer: We provide these resources for convenience only; we do not endorse or profit from them.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Colorado?

You usually have two years from the date of the fall under C.R.S. § 13-80-102. That is shorter than the three-year rule for car crashes. If you fell in a City of Denver building or an RTD station, written notice is due within 182 days, so your real deadline can be much shorter.

Who is at fault if I slip on ice outside a Denver store?

Under the Colorado Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-115), a business must fix or warn about dangers it knew about or should have found. A store or landlord that ignored an icy entrance near Cherry Creek after a storm may be at fault, depending on notice and how fast they cleared the snow.

What if the fall was partly my fault?

You can still recover if you are 49% or less at fault. This is Colorado’s rule for splitting blame, called modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. § 13-21-111). Your payment drops by your share of the blame. At 50% or more, you get nothing — which is why insurers argue a hazard was “open and obvious”.

How do I prove the property owner knew about the hazard?

You prove it with evidence: security video, the store’s incident report, cleaning and inspection logs, and witness accounts. Because a Denver business may record over its video within days, a prompt evidence-preservation letter — plus a copy of the incident report you filed — protects your claim under C.R.S. § 13-21-115.

What is my Denver slip and fall case worth?

It depends on your medical costs, lost income, and how the injury affects daily life. Economic (money) damages have no cap. Non-economic (pain-and-suffering) damages are capped at $1.5 million for claims filed on or after January 1, 2025 under HB 24-1472. Serious falls often cost more long-term.

Contact a Denver slip and fall lawyer today

If you or a family member was hurt in a Denver-area fall, Levine Law is here 24/7 to review your claim and explain your options at no cost.

Call 303-333-8000 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Attorney Review & Office Information

This content has been reviewed by the attorneys at Levine Law to help ensure its accuracy and compliance with applicable Colorado law. Legal services are provided by attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Colorado.

Denver Office
Levine Law LLC
4500 Cherry Creek S Dr #400
Denver, CO 80246
24/7 Hotline: (303) 333-8000

Other Cases We Take On

Beyond slip and fall claims, Levine Law helps injured Coloradans across many practice areas:

• Premises Liability
• Sidewalk Accidents
• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Wrongful Death
• Nursing Home Abuse
• Catastrophic Injury

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every case is evaluated on its own facts. This content has been prepared for review by Colorado-licensed attorneys at Levine Law.