Two counties
The City of Longmont describes itself as located along the northern Front Range in Boulder and Weld counties.
Longmont, Boulder and Weld Counties, Colorado
Longmont Burn Injury Lawyers for Electrical and Appliance Fires in Rentals and Homes
A dryer that kept overheating, an outlet that buzzed, and a microwave that sparked once before it caught fire. If there were warning signs before the fire, it matters who saw them and what they did. We help renters and homeowners in Longmont sort out responsibility and the real cost of recovery, working from our office in Denver.
No fee unless we winIt's More Than Money.
Serving Longmont from our Denver Office
CGH Injury Lawyers
2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 209-9395
Se habla español
5-star rated on Google
ABOTA trial advocate on the team
Life Care Plans for burn cases
No fee unless we win
The fire started in the laundry closet of the house you rent, behind the refrigerator, or in a wall outlet that the landlord said was fine.
You got burned getting your family out, and now you're dealing with wound care, a displaced household and a property manager who won't return calls. You may be weighing whether to speak with a Longmont burn injury lawyer.
To talk it through, call CGH Injury Lawyers at (303) 209-9395. You can also reach us in writing from the contact page.
Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.
What This Page Covers
- Appliance, wiring, and electrical fires in Longmont rentals and houses
- Vehicle and workplace burns in Longmont
- What Colorado law says about landlords, manufacturers, fault, and damages
- Filing deadlines and the government notice rule
- Longmont's courts in two counties, its hospitals, and its fire services
- How we build a burn case
- Early steps, damages, insurance positions, and payment sources
Key Takeaways
- An appliance fire in a rental can involve two very different claims: one about the property's condition and one about the appliance itself.
- What a landlord owes you depends on your status on the property, which a court decides based on the facts. As an invitee, you'd generally need to show the landlord knew or should have known about the hazard; as a licensee, you'd need to show the landlord actually knew.
- Longmont's page on fire and police reports says criminal justice records requests may take weeks and even months to process, so a records request is worth starting early.
- Under C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a) and (1)(b), premises claims and strict liability product claims generally have two years in Colorado. Have a lawyer confirm your deadline.
- MedlinePlus includes electrical burns, along with faulty space heaters and furnaces, among the causes of burns it lists.
Who we represent
Burns in Longmont Rentals, Homes, Vehicles and Workplaces
Colorado law treats an appliance fire, a wiring fire, a vehicle fire and a workplace burn in different ways.
An appliance that failed
If a dryer, microwave, space heater, e-bike battery or extension cord was defective, the company that made it may be responsible.
Colorado allows a product liability case on more than one legal theory, and negligence and strict liability both qualify (C.R.S. 13-21-401(2)). With strict liability, the case centers on the appliance: whether it was defective and whether the defect caused your burn.
Wiring, outlets and other property conditions
Some fires trace back to the building: an overloaded circuit, a panel that should have been replaced, or a gas line fitting that leaked.
The Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. 13-21-115) defines a landowner to include a person legally responsible for the condition of real property, which can include a landlord.
Whether a renter is treated as an invitee or a licensee is for the court to decide from the facts, and the answer changes the standard: dangers the owner knew about or should have known about for an invitee, actual knowledge for a licensee.
A fire in a home you own
If you own the house, the question generally turns to the dryer, heater, or charger that started the fire and whether it was defective.
Keep the appliance, the receipt or order confirmation, and any recall letter, and write down when you first noticed a problem, such as a burning smell or a breaker that kept tripping. Before any debris is removed for repairs, ask in writing that the appliance and the outlet it was plugged into be set aside.
A vehicle fire
MedlinePlus identifies car accidents as a cause of burns. If a driver's negligence caused the crash, a claim against that driver can include the burn.
An electrical burn at work
Electrical and industrial equipment burns can happen on the job. Against your employer, workers' compensation is generally the only claim (C.R.S. 8-41-102), and it may pay benefits.
A separate claim may be possible against an outside party, such as the maker of defective electrical equipment or a property owner who isn't your employer, for damages beyond workers' compensation (C.R.S. 8-41-203).
The law that governs your case
How Colorado Law Treats a Longmont Fire Claim
A fire claim can involve premises law, product law, a damages limit, shared fault and several deadlines at once.
Landlords and property owners
What a property owner owed you under the Premises Liability Act rests on your legal status. The categories are trespasser, licensee, and invitee, and the court makes the call.
An invitee is defined as someone who comes onto land to transact business in which both parties are mutually interested, or in response to the owner's express or implied representation that the public is requested, expected, or intended to enter.
An invitee can generally recover for dangers the landowner "actually knew about or should have known about" when the landowner didn't take reasonable care to protect against them.
In a rental where a tenant reported sparking outlets for months, those reports may bear on what the landlord actually knew.
The court will decide which category a tenant falls into based on the facts. A social guest counts as a licensee, and a licensee generally must show the landowner actually knew about the danger (C.R.S. 13-21-115(4)(b)).
An invitee on land classified as agricultural or vacant for property tax purposes must also meet the same actual-knowledge test, according to C.R.S. 13-21-115(4)(c)(II).
The noneconomic damages limit
A $1.5 million limit covers noneconomic damages for claims arising on or after January 1, 2025. That category includes pain and suffering, inconvenience, emotional stress, and impaired quality of life. Medical malpractice and wrongful death claims follow different rules, and the limit itself is adjusted for inflation starting January 1, 2028.
Economic losses, such as the cost of burn care or lost wages, do not fall under that noneconomic limit (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(3)).
Subsection (5) of the section, C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5), also keeps it from restricting compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement, and scarring may be compensated as disfigurement.
When you're blamed for part of the fire
In a negligence claim, Colorado's rule appears at C.R.S. 13-21-111. Your negligence won't bar recovery if it was less than the negligence of the person you're claiming against, but your damages are reduced by your percentage.
If your share is equal to or greater than theirs, the court must enter judgment for the defendant.
Imagine a tenant who plugged a space heater into a power strip and found 25 percent at fault, and a landlord found 75 percent at fault for wiring the tenant had reported. The tenant's damages would be reduced by a quarter.
Deadlines
- When the clock generally starts: the day you learned, or through reasonable diligence should have learned, of both the injury and its cause (C.R.S. 13-80-108(1)).
- Tort claims, including premises and negligence claims: generally two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a)).
- Strict liability claims about an appliance: also generally two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(b)).
- Government bodies: written notice must be filed within 182 days after you discover the injury if the party at fault may be a public entity or one of its employees on the job. That's so whether or not you knew all the elements of the claim at the time, and noncompliance forever bars the claim (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)).
A child's claim may be subject to separate rules that change how a deadline runs. Get the date for your case confirmed by a lawyer.
Local knowledge
Longmont's Courts, Hospitals and Fire Services
The courts
On the Boulder County side, which forms the 20th Judicial District, the Colorado Judicial Branch has a location in town, Boulder County Combined Court - Longmont, at 1035 Kimbark St., and the Boulder County Combined Court at 1777 6th St., Boulder, CO 80302.
The Weld County side belongs to the 19th Judicial District, and the Judicial Branch lists the Weld County Centennial Center, 915 10th Street, Greeley, CO 80631, and the Weld County Courthouse, whose location page says "All court business is handled in the Centennial Center." Where a lawsuit is filed depends on the facts.
Hospitals
Two Longmont hospitals appear as Level III facilities on the state's designated trauma facility list, kept by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Longmont United Hospital, part of CommonSpirit, at 1950 Mountain View Ave., and UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital, at 1750 E. Ken Pratt Boulevard.
Fire services and records
The Longmont Fire Services Division, part of Longmont Public Safety, handles fire suppression, hazardous materials response, and emergency medical and rescue services. The city's page on obtaining fire and police reports says criminal justice records requests may take weeks and even months to process.
It also says the city partners with American Medical Response (AMR) for ambulance services and that releasing medical information requires a signed HIPAA release. Starting those requests early can help.
Our office
Our office is at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver.
Why CGH
Our Work on Longmont Burn Cases
We don't publish burn settlement figures. The depth and extent of the burn, where it is and how it affects your life all shape a claim.
Tracing the fire to its source
When the other side says you started the fire, we answer with fire origin analysis, maintenance records, and expert testimony. In an appliance or wiring case, maintenance records and repair requests can be central.
Documenting care that hasn't happened yet
Our Life Care Plans draw on medical economists, burn surgeons and vocational experts to put the cost of future treatment and lost work in writing.
Candor
If the facts or the law don't support a claim, we say so.
Trial preparation
CGH Injury Lawyers, formerly Cheney Galluzzi & Howard, was founded in Denver in 2016 and prepares each case as if it will be tried. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
Spanish line
For help in Spanish, call (303) 835-9177.
After a burn injury
First Steps After an Appliance or Electrical Fire in Longmont
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Get treated
MedlinePlus notes that "Major burns need urgent medical care." Call 911 in an emergency.
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Don't let the evidence be hauled off
Ask in writing that the landlord, the insurer and any restoration company keep the appliance, outlet, cords, and panel components.
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Gather the history
Save texts, emails, maintenance portal requests, and any notice where you reported sparks, tripped breakers, burning smells, or an overheating appliance.
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Write down the appliance details
Brand, model, serial number, and where you bought it, plus any recall notices you received.
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Talk to a lawyer before a recorded statement
Before you give a recorded statement to an insurance company, you can ask to speak with a lawyer first. The phone number for CGH is (303) 209-9395.
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Track displacement costs
Keep receipts for temporary housing, replacement clothing and belongings, along with medical bills and missed pay.
Compensation
Damages That May Be Available After a Longmont Burn
Available damages turn on the facts of the case. For a renter, a fire can also mean weeks in a hotel or with relatives while the unit is repaired, and those costs belong in the record too.
Economic losses
- Hospital, emergency, and burn treatment
- Surgery and grafting, including future procedures
- Scar therapy and custom garments
- Rehabilitation and counseling
- Lost pay and lost future earning capacity
- Temporary housing and replacement of burned property
- Home modifications or equipment needed because of an impairment
Noneconomic losses
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience and emotional stress
- Impaired quality of life
- A spouse's claim for loss of consortium
Physical impairment and disfigurement
The noneconomic cap doesn't limit compensatory damages of this kind (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5)), and scarring may be compensated as disfigurement.
Public entity maximums
If a government body is responsible, maximum recovery amounts apply. Every four years, the Colorado Secretary of State adjusts those amounts under C.R.S. 24-10-114.
Defenses insurers raise
What Insurers May Say After an Electrical or Appliance Fire
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"The tenant overloaded the outlet"
In a negligence claim, shared fault reduces your damages by your percentage, and it bars recovery only when your share is equal to or greater than the other side's.
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"The landlord had no idea there was a problem"
Your written repair requests may show what the landlord actually knew. Whether the "should have known" standard also applies depends on your status, which the court determines based on the facts.
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"Blame the manufacturer, not us"
Depending on the facts, the landlord and the appliance maker may both be responsible. We look at the property claim and the product claim together.
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"We'll pay to replace your belongings"
A settlement discussion that stops at replaced belongings leaves out burn treatment, future surgery, and lost income. A Life Care Plan documents those costs.
Who pays
Who Pays When a Longmont Home Catches Fire
- The landlord or property owner: their liability insurance may respond when the building's condition caused the fire.
- The appliance manufacturer: the company that made a defective appliance is a possible defendant.
- An at-fault driver: that driver's auto liability policy is a starting point for a vehicle fire, and your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may help when theirs falls short.
- A workplace burn: workers' compensation may pay benefits, and an outside company's insurer may be involved if that company caused the burn. If workers' compensation has paid benefits, its insurer may have a right to be repaid from what you recover from the outside party (C.R.S. 8-41-203).
A rental fire can involve more than one of these at once, such as a landlord's policy and a claim against an appliance maker.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a burn from a car fire after a crash have a longer deadline?
Generally, yes. Colorado's three-year period for tort claims arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)) can apply to a crash fire. A claim in strict liability against the maker of a faulty vehicle part generally stays under the two-year rule (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)(II), 13-80-102(1)(b)). A lawyer can confirm which period applies to your claim.
Where would a Longmont burn case be filed?
Longmont sits partly in Boulder County and partly in Weld County, so more than one court can be in play, and where a lawsuit is filed depends on the facts. On the Boulder County side (20th Judicial District), the Judicial Branch lists locations at 1035 Kimbark St. in Longmont and 1777 6th St. in Boulder. On the Weld County side (19th Judicial District), the Judicial Branch lists the Centennial Center and the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley, and the courthouse page says all court business is handled in the Centennial Center.
Is scarring compensation capped in Colorado?
Colorado caps noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, at $1.5 million for claims arising on or after January 1, 2025, and medical malpractice and wrongful death follow different rules (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5). Compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement fall outside it under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5). Scarring may be compensated as disfigurement. Economic damages like medical bills and lost wages aren't within the noneconomic cap either.
A faulty appliance in my rental caused a fire and burned me. Could my landlord be liable?
Possibly. The Premises Liability Act applies to a person legally responsible for the condition of real property, and a landlord can meet that description (C.R.S. 13-21-115). The duty owed depends on your status, which the court decides from the facts. If the court finds you were an invitee, dangers the landlord knew about or should have known about can support a claim. If it finds you were a licensee, the landlord's actual knowledge is generally needed. The company that made the appliance may be responsible too.
Is CGH Injury Lawyers based in Longmont?
No. Our office is at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. Talk with us at (303) 209-9395.
The appliance was defective. Can I sue the store where I bought it?
Possibly, though Colorado generally limits product liability claims against a seller that didn't make the product (C.R.S. 13-21-402). Exceptions include a seller that knew about the defect, and a principal distributor or seller when a court can't get jurisdiction over the manufacturer (C.R.S. 13-21-401(1), 13-21-402). The manufacturer is a possible defendant.
I got burned at a friend's backyard fire pit. Do I have a claim?
It depends on what happened. As a social guest, you'd generally be treated as a licensee, which generally means showing the host actually knew about the danger (C.R.S. 13-21-115(4)(b)). Your category is decided by the court. If a propane fire pit or similar product was defective, a claim against the manufacturer may be worth looking into as well.
Where can payment come from after a burn?
It depends on the source of the burn. For a rental or home fire, a landlord's or owner's liability insurance may respond. For a burn at work, workers' compensation may pay benefits. After a crash, the at-fault driver's auto policy is a starting point, and your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may help. Save every bill and receipt, and call us to go over which sources may apply in your case.
Keep Reading
Related pages
Statewide Practice Area
Denver Money Pages
It's More Than Money.
Speak With a Longmont Burn Injury Attorney
After a rental fire, the landlord's insurer, the appliance maker, and your own records may all lead to different conclusions.
Call (303) 209-9395 or write to us on the contact page and tell us what happened. We'll go over how Colorado law may apply and tell you plainly what we think.
Learn more on our Longmont personal injury lawyers page.
For the statewide picture, read about a Colorado burn injury attorney, or see how our Denver burn injury lawyer team approaches these cases. A rental fire may also call for a Longmont premises liability lawyer, and a vehicle fire for a Longmont car accident lawyer.
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