Holding Property Owners Accountable for Unsafe Outdoor Conditions
Poorly maintained landscaping creates hidden dangers that injure thousands of visitors to commercial and residential properties each year. Overgrown vegetation, protruding tree roots, improperly installed irrigation systems, and concealed drop-offs can cause serious falls and injuries. The Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya represents individuals throughout Denver and Colorado who have been hurt due to unsafe landscaping conditions. When property owners fail to address known hazards or allow dangerous conditions to develop, a Denver premises liability attorney can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya
When you work with our firm, you gain access to a legal team built on deep Colorado legal experience. The firm was established in 2005 and is led by an attorney licensed since 1981. Our attorneys combine extensive trial experience with a compassionate approach that puts your needs first. Reasons to choose the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya include:
- Attorneys with over 50 years of combined legal experience, including extensive experience representing personal injury victims in Colorado
- Successfully resolved thousands of cases and recovered millions of dollars for clients
- Pre-medicine background allows our team to understand complex medical issues in your case
- Relationships with highly qualified medical specialists including orthopedists, neurologists, and other experts
- Free consultations with no fee unless we recover compensation for you
- Available 24/7 to discuss your case and answer your questions
- You focus on healing while we handle the legal process and fight for your rights
Our lawyers have top ratings from numerous organizations, including The National Trial Lawyers, Avvo, and Lawyers of Distinction. We are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
What Types of Landscape Hazards Cause Injuries?
Landscaping hazards take many forms, and property owners have a responsibility to address these dangers. When they fail to do so, visitors can suffer serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.
Overgrown Vegetation and Obstructed Walkways
Trees and bushes that are not properly maintained can obstruct walkways and block sightlines, causing pedestrians to trip or collide with hidden obstacles. Branches extending across paths or into parking areas create hazards that property owners should address through regular maintenance. Ivy and ground cover can conceal uneven surfaces, steps, or debris underneath.
Uneven Surfaces and Protruding Roots
Tree roots that lift sidewalks and pathways create tripping hazards that catch visitors off guard. Landscaping rocks placed near walkways, protruding sprinkler heads, and uncovered irrigation holes pose similar risks. Poorly designed elevation changes between lawn areas and hardscaped surfaces are particularly dangerous when transitions are not clearly marked.
Hidden Drop-Offs and Drainage Problems
Abrupt grading changes become especially dangerous when vegetation conceals the hazard. Retaining walls without guardrails, eroded hillsides adjacent to walking paths, and poorly maintained drainage ditches can all lead to serious falls. Standing water from broken or poorly aimed irrigation systems also creates slip-and-fall dangers on smooth surfaces.
How Does Colorado Law Protect Injury Victims?
Colorado premises liability law requires property owners to exercise reasonable care in maintaining their property. Property owners owe different duties of care depending on why a person is on the property. Customers and patrons of businesses, classified as invitees, are owed the highest level of protection.
To hold a property owner liable for a landscape hazard injury, we must demonstrate that the owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to repair it or provide adequate warning. Evidence showing how long the hazard existed and what maintenance was performed helps establish whether the owner acted reasonably.
Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Your compensation may be reduced if you share some responsibility for your injuries, but as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault, you can still recover damages.
Proving Your Landscape Hazard Claim
Building a strong premises liability case requires thorough documentation and investigation. Photographs of the hazard that caused your fall, witness statements, and records of any prior complaints about the condition all help establish the property owner’s negligence.
Our legal team investigates your case by:
- Reviewing maintenance records
- Examining the property
- Consulting with landscaping and safety experts
- Gathering evidence that demonstrates the owner’s failure to address known dangers
Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths globally and a major cause of hospitalization, making thorough investigation of the circumstances essential to your claim.
What to Expect When You Contact Our Firm
When you reach out to the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya, we start with a free consultation to review your case and explain your legal options. There is no upfront cost, and you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
From there, our team handles every aspect of your case. We gather evidence, communicate with insurance companies, consult with medical and safety experts, and negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement. If the insurance company refuses to offer full compensation, we are prepared to take your case to trial. Throughout the process, we keep you informed and answer your questions so you always know where your case stands.
Seek Compensation for Your Landscape Hazard Injuries
Injuries from landscape hazards can leave you facing mounting medical expenses, time away from work, and lasting pain. Property owners and their insurance companies often try to minimize what they pay, but you deserve full compensation for your losses.
Dianne Sawaya has been practicing personal injury law since 1981, and the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya continues that legacy of advocacy. Our team is ready to stand by your side. Contact our office today for a free consultation and let us help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be held liable for a landscape hazard injury?
Property owners and property managers have primary responsibility for maintaining safe conditions. In some cases, landscaping companies that installed or maintained the hazardous condition may share liability. Commercial tenants may also bear responsibility depending on their lease terms and level of control over the property’s outdoor areas.
What compensation can I recover for a fall caused by unsafe landscaping?
Compensation may include current and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and costs of any necessary ongoing care. The specific amount depends on the severity of your injuries and how they have affected your daily life.
How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Colorado?
Colorado’s statute of limitations sets deadlines for filing premises liability claims, so your time to file a claim is limited.. Missing this deadline can permanently prevent you from recovering compensation. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your injury to protect your rights and ensure critical evidence is preserved.