Aurora Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

Colorado law classifies people on someone else’s property into three categories: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. Each status determines the duty of care that the landowner owes to the injured person.

Invitees

An invitee is someone who enters the property for mutual business purposes. This includes customers shopping at a store, patients visiting a clinic, or contractors hired to perform work on-site. Invitees are owed the highest duty of care. Property owners must take reasonable steps to inspect and maintain the premises and either fix or warn invitees of any known dangers or hazards that they should have known about.

Example: If you slip on a spilled drink at a grocery store and the store failed to clean it up or warn patrons in a timely manner, the owner may be held liable.

Licensees

A licensee is someone who is on the property for their own purposes, such as a social guest visiting a friend. While the property owner does not have to actively inspect the property for dangers, they must warn the licensee of any known hazardous conditions that are not obvious.

Example: If a homeowner knows that their back deck is unstable but fails to warn a guest, and the guest is injured as a result, they could be liable for the injury.

Trespassers

A trespasser is someone who enters the property without permission. Property owners generally do not owe trespassers a duty of care beyond refraining from intentionally causing harm. However, exceptions can apply—particularly when children are involved or when hazards are created deliberately.

Note: Colorado law may treat child trespassers differently under the “attractive nuisance doctrine,” which applies when something on the property—such as a pool or trampoline—could attract children and pose a risk.