Homeowners in Colorado generally keep their premises in good repair for their own safety and the safety of those on their property. However, accidents will happen and sometimes a person is injured while at someone else’s house. When this happens, the injured party may want to pursue a premises liability claim.

However, just because you were injured on someone else’s property does not automatically mean you will be awarded damages for the injuries you suffered. Colorado law on premises liability correlate with the status of the injured person on the property.

Trespassers

Trespassers are those who are on a person’s property without permission. Trespassers have the least protection in Colorado. If you are a trespasser you can only seek compensation for an injury suffered on someone else’s property if the property owner willfully or deliberately caused the damages.

Licensees

Licensees are those who are on a person’s property for their own convenience or interests, with the property owner’s consent. Social guests are considered licensees. Licensees have more protection than trespassers in Colorado. Licensees can only seek compensation for damages suffered due to the property owner’s unreasonable failure to use reasonable care regarding dangers on their property that they themselves created and knew about. Property owners may also be liable to licensees if the property owner unreasonably failed to warn the licensee of dangers that the property owner did not create but did know about and are not usually on the type of property at issue.

Invitees

Invitees are those who are on a person’s property for mutual business purposes or with the property owner’s express or implied representation that the public may be on their property. Invitees have the most protection in Colorado. Invitees can seek compensation for damages suffered on someone else’s property if the property owner unreasonably failed to use reasonable care to protect people on their premises from dangers that the property owner either knew about or should have known about.

Seek assistance if you are injured on someone else’s property

As you can see, the reason a person is on another’s property can dictate what their rights are if they are injured on the premises. This post is only a general overview of premises liability laws and does not contain legal advice. Those who have been injured on another person’s property will want to seek the help needed to determine if they can seek compensation for the damages they suffered.