Experienced Longmont Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers
Colorado’s premises liability law does not require a property owner to guarantee your safety – it requires them to use reasonable care to keep their property free from known hazards. If they fail, people can get hurt. If you are injured on someone else’s property in Longmont, you know that the injury happened quickly. What you may not yet know is that the window for preserving evidence, identifying the responsible party and building a viable claim begins closing the same day.
Arckey & Steele represent seriously injured Longmont residents in slip-and-fall cases with a partnership-led approach – not a case manager or an intake coordinator. You work directly with attorneys who know Colorado’s premise liability from the inside out.
Results for Longmont Slip and Fall Accident Injury Victims
There are many personal injury law firms that are settlement mills and only interested in quick settlements and quick checks. They are not interested in your best interests and not interested in getting the best results for you. Arckey & Steele has more than 30 years of experience in personal injury law and we are dedicated to providing you with a personalized, attorney-led strategy that delivers the results and compensation that you deserve.
Race Discrimination and RetaliationWe represented an HR assistant against a large company
Bicycle AccidentWe represented a cyclist who was hit by a car
Sex DiscriminationWe represented a former police officer against a municipality
Liability in a slip and fall case depends on the legal relationship between you and the property owner at the time of the accident. Colorado applies a modified comparative fault standard under C.R.S. § 13-21-111, which means that you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault – as long as your share of fault remains below 50 percent. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. The duty of care of the property owner depends on your status at the time of accident.
An invitee, someone who is on the premises for the benefit of the owner, such as a retail customer or restaurant diner, has the highest duty owed to them. The owner is required not only to fix known hazards, but also to inspect for hazards that they reasonably should have discovered.
A licensee, who enters with permission but not for the owner’s commercial benefit, such as a social guest, has a duty to be warned of known hazards that are not obvious. Owners owe a duty to warn licensees of these hazards. Trespassers generally have the weakest claim, but Colorado recognizes some exceptions, especially for children under the attractive nuisance doctrine.
Most slip and fall victims in commercial settings – grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, parking lots – are classified as invitees. This classification carries the strongest duty of care, which matters when building a negligence claim.
Representation for Slip and Fall Accidents in Colorado
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Longmont
Longmont’s mix of commercial corridors, older commercial buildings along Main Street and Ken Pratt Boulevard, and heavy winter weather create specific slip and fall risks that lead to premises liability claims. Understanding the category of your accident helps frame the argument about negligence.
Ice and Snow Accumulation
Colorado’s Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-115) governs slip and fall cases involving natural accumulation of snow and ice. Property owners – including commercial businesses – have a duty to address unnatural accumulations created by drainage issues, roofline runoff, or failure to clear snow within a reasonable time after a storm. The line between natural and unnatural accumulation is often contested, and it’s a line worth arguing carefully.
Wet and Slippery Floors
Liquid spills, freshly mopped floors without warning signs, and tracked-in water near building entrances are routine hazards in grocery stores, restaurants, and retail settings. The critical legal question is not whether the floor was wet – it’s whether the property owner knew or should have known about it and failed to act within a reasonable time.
Uneven Surfaces and Maintenance Failures
Cracked sidewalks, deteriorating parking lot surfaces, uneven pavement transitions, and poorly maintained exterior staircases are among the most common maintenance-related hazards. When a city sidewalk is involved, additional rules apply – including specific notice requirements for claims against government entities.
Poor Lighting
Inadequate lighting in parking structures, stairwells, and building interiors obscure hazards that a properly lit area would make obvious. Lighting failures are often combined with other hazards – a dark stairwell with a broken handrail, for example – and can significantly strengthen the argument that the owner knew the conditions were dangerous.
Defective Stairs and Handrails
Missing or unstable handrails, uneven riser heights, and worn stair surfaces are code violations in many cases. The building codes in Colorado establish minimum standards for stair and railing construction. A code violation doesn’t automatically prove negligence, but it’s strong evidence that the property owner failed to maintain safe conditions.
The decisions you make in the hours and days after an accident will shape what your case will look like six months from now. Insurance adjusters move quickly. They gather statements, review surveillance footage, and develop a defense strategy before you have even decided to hire a lawyer. Here are some things to prioritize:
1Get medical treatment immediately
After a fall, adrenaline can mask serious injuries, including fractures, soft tissue damage and head injuries. Practically, a gap between the fall and your first medical visit provides the defense with an argument that your injuries were not caused by the accident. Document everything from the very beginning.
2Photograph the scene
If you are physically able, take photographs of the hazard from multiple angles before leaving. Conditions change – spills are cleaned up, ice melts and broken equipment is repaired. What the scene will look like an hour later may be very different from what caused your fall.
3Report the incident formally
Notify the property owner, store manager, or business operator before leaving. Get a copy of any written incident report. If the fall occurred on government property – a public sidewalk, city-owned facility or government building – you must file a Notice of Claim under C.R.S. § 24-10-109 within 182 days of the accident. Missing that deadline and the claim is lost.
4Preserve your clothing and footwear
Don’t wash them. The defense may argue that your shoes were unsuitable or that your clothing contributed to the fall. Preserved evidence will answer that argument.
5Don’t give a recorded statement to the insurance company
Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that minimize your claim. You have no obligation to provide a recorded statement before you speak with an attorney. You have every reason not to.
Maximize your recovery
What Compensation Is Available in a Longmont Slip and Fall Case?
The financial recovery in a slip and fall case is meant to restore you to the position you were in before the accident – financially and, to the extent allowed by law, physically. There are two categories of damages.
Economic DamagesThese are the concrete, documented losses. Medical bills – emergency room, surgery, imaging, physical therapy, follow-up care. Lost wages for time you couldn’t work. Future medical costs and lost earning capacity if your injury has long-term consequences. Experts in life-care planning and vocational economics calculate these figures in serious cases. The goal is to take into account the full cost of the injury, not just the bills you have received so far.
Non-Economic DamagesPain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life can be compensated in Colorado. These types of damages are more difficult to quantify, and insurance companies work hard to minimize them. The non-economic damage cap for personal injury cases in Colorado was increased to $1.5 million after the passage of House Bill 24-1472 in January 2025. For cases involving catastrophic injuries, such as severe spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries that lead to permanent disability, the cap can be increased to $ 1.5M if there is appropriate evidence.
Punitive DamagesIn cases involving egregious conduct, where the property owner has actual knowledge of a dangerous condition and deliberately ignores it, punitive damages may be available. These are rare in slip-and-fall cases, but they are not unheard of when the facts support them.
Schedule a Free Case Strategy Session
Ready to Get the Insurance Companies Off Your Back?
Don’t let a Longmont insurance adjuster dictate what your recovery is worth. Put your case in the hands of a trial-ready team that knows how to neutralize their tactics and secure your financial future.
How Long Do You Have to File a Slip and Fall Accident Claim in Colorado?
Colorado gives you two years from the date of your slip and fall injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is set by C.R.S. § 13-80-102. If you miss it, the court will most likely dismiss your case. No matter how strong your case may be on the merits, it will not save it.
The two-year window seems long. It shrinks quickly. Witnesses’ memories fade. Surveillance footage is overwritten within days or weeks. Property owners fix the hazard and deny that it ever existed. Building a solid case takes time that disappears if you wait.
Government entities come with even shorter windows – 182 days for a Notice of Claim, as noted above. The two-year period does not apply until the 183rd day after the accident. If your fall occurred on a city sidewalk, public school or any government-operated property, the 182-day clock starts from the date of the accident.
Our Process
What to Expect When Starting a Slip and Fall Accident Claim with Us
Personal injury cases present unique circumstances, yet most cases progress through a standard sequence of events. Here’s what the process often looks like for our Longmont clients.
1Investigating the Accident
We thoroughly investigate the events that led up to your accident, gather all police reports, witness statements, and all other required details about the accident. The first part of the investigation work establishes essential elements that will support the entire case investigation.
2Filing the Claim
We will determine both liability and damages before we create a proper claim submission, which we will send to the responsible parties and their insurance providers. We will communicate our initial demand for a fair settlement.
3Negotiating a Settlement
Many cases resolve through negotiation, but only after we understand the full value of your injuries and their effect on you and your loved ones. We don’t rush this step, especially when future care is involved.
4Litigation, If Necessary
If necessary, we will start legal proceedings through court action to obtain a judicial solution after settlement negotiations fail to produce an acceptable agreement. We conduct complete case preparation for all situations that might require court proceedings.
Critical Selection Factors
Why Longmont Slip and Fall Victims Work with Arckey & Steele
Most personal injury firms operate on a volume basis. Cases come in and settlements go out as files move through a rotation of paralegals and case managers. At Arckey & Steele, we operate differently. We intentionally limit our caseload so that each case receives serious partner-level attention from day one. Your attorney will know your file inside and out. When the insurance company contacts us, the person handling your case is the same individual who reviewed your medical records and worked with you to analyze liability.
Thirty years of experience in personal injury work in Colorado has taught us how insurance companies approach these cases. We know what evidence they look for, the arguments they make, and how much they will push before settlement becomes more attractive than going to trial. We don’t rush the process. We build strong cases that stand up under pressure. The cases that survive pressure are the ones that lead to real money settlements.
Slip and fall cases in Boulder County, where Longmont is located, have their own dynamics. The jury pool, local judges, the specific layout of a commercial property on Ken Pratt Boulevard or a storefront on Main Street are all details that matter in court and during settlement negotiations. We bring this local knowledge to each case.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Arckey & Steele for Your Slip and Fall Accident Case in Longmont
Our goal is simple: do fewer cases, and do them exceptionally well.
Small caseloads, focused attention
We intentionally limit the number of cases so each client receives the time, focus, and resources their matter deserves.
Direct access to your attorney
When you contact our firm, you work directly with the lawyer handling your case.
Proven track record
Our attorneys bring decades of combined experience and a track record of results in serious injury and litigation-focused cases.
Meet Our Team
Our Trusted Longmont Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys
When you hire Arckey & Steele, you work directly with experienced attorneys who are personally invested in your case.
Founder & PartnerEric S. Steele
Tackles cases involving personal injury, business, and employment matters. Eric has significant experience securing meaningful recoveries for injured clients.
Brings over four decades of litigation experience and a strategic approach shaped by years of representing individuals and businesses, often in the courtroom.
I highly recommend Tom. He is incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and genuinely cares about his clients. From the very beginning, I felt that he had my best interests in mind and took the time to thoroughly answer my questions and explain my options.
He provided a free consultation and shared a wealth of valuable information without ever making me feel rushed or pressured. His professionalism, honesty, and compassion gave me confidence during a stressful situation. If I ever need an employment attorney again, I wouldn’t go to anyone else. Highly recommend!
Amy Wessman
I had a very positive experience utilizing the services of Arckey and Steele. I have minimal experience working with attorneys and as a result, I did not know what to expect. Mr. Arckey was very pleasant to work with and he fit me into his schedule right away. With his help, the small issue that I needed help with was resolved quickly, efficiently and effectively. I highly recommend working with Arckey & Steele for any injury or civil rights issue.
Amanda Wyman
Eric is a phenomenal attorney and really cares about his clients!
Michelle Jacobson
We worked with Eric Steele on our PI case after my daughter and I got rear ended. He was incredibly helpful, quick to respond and negotiated for us to get the largest settlement possible. We’re very grateful to him and can’t recommend this team enough!
Andrew Salomone
Eric was great to work with from start to finish. He was thorough and his communication was excellent throughout the entire process. He made an overall stressful situation much easier!
Michael Campbell
I am thankful I chose Eric Steele of Arckey and Steele to represent me during the sale of my business. Erick is, fair-minded, professional, a good listener, and he brought a level of needed calm during a stressful time. I highly recommend this firm and trust in them greatly. 10 out of 10!
Roberta Weadley
Eric is extremely responsive and helpful! While he was not able to help us with our particular issue he was gracious enough to refer us to someone who could and did! Thank you Eric!
Chuck Caswell
Tom Arckey, great employment lawyer and an even better guy.
Tom Warda
I worked with Tom on a dispute involving a belligerent shareholder in my company. I found Tom to be very methodical, disciplined and assertive in dealing with this matter. I highly recommend Tom and his staff for all your litigation needs. I look forward to working with Tom in the future.
Angela D
I had a great experience working with Eric after I was rear-ended in a car accident that was completely the other driver's fault. Eric was professional, honest, and focused on getting a fair outcome—not on playing games or pushing unnecessary treatments. He helped me navigate the process and made sure I got what I deserved. I really appreciated how straightforward and respectful he was throughout. Highly recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accidents
Yes. A “Wet Floor” sign is not a get out of jail free card for a property owner when a slip and fall accident occurs. The sign may have been hidden, obstructed, or knocked down prior to the accident, a spill may have been forgotten or ignored for a longer period, or the floor was not adequately cleaned to prevent a slip and fall.
Do you have reason to believe that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard? This process to prove that the property owners knew about the hazard is called “constructive notice” and can be proven by examining the duration the hazard was in place, if the hazard is recurring, or if maintenance logs are up to date.
Yes. Adrenaline has the ability to mask serious soft-tissue injuries that may not be readily apparent and head trauma like concussions or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can have delayed symptoms. In addition to the medical element of the incident, seeing a doctor immediately creates a chain of medical documents to serve as evidence in your case.
Colorado law implements “Modified Comparative Negligence” in personal injury cases that impacts compensation and damages based on fault. If you are less than 50% at fault in a slip and fall accident, you are still eligible for compensation, and that compensation is reduced by your own percentage of fault in the incident.
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Areas We Serve
Representing Slip and Fall Accident Victims Across Colorado
No matter where you live in the Front Range — from Denver to Broomfield — Arckey & Steele provides trial-ready legal support that is built on more than 30 years of experience in personal injury law.
You don’t need to worry about figuring out liability, evidence deadlines, or insurance strategies on your own. Instead, contact Arckey & Steele for a free case evaluation and speak directly with a lawyer – not a call center representative.
