Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Spinal Cord Injury:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when the nerves within the spinal canal are damaged.  Most SCI's are caused by trauma to the vertebral column, affecting the spinal cord's ability to send and receive messages between the brain and the body's systems that control sensory, motor and autonomic function.  Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of SCI, followed by acts of violence, falls, sports injuries and diseases such as polio, spina bifida and Friedreich’s Ataxia.  The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of functioning to occur. In fact, in most people with SCI, the spinal cord is intact, but the damage to it results in loss of functioning.   

Traumatic Brain Injury:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a medical phrase used to describe the damage to the brain suffered by sudden impact or physical force to the head.  Essentially, the human brain floats in a fluid substance called cerebrospinal fluid.  TBI can result when the force of momentum causes the brain to impact against the skull.  This type of injury, often the result of hitting your head on the windshield, pavement or object, is frequently referred to as a “closed head injury.”  Whiplash can also cause TBI.  These closed head injuries can result in lasting physical and mental problems.

Burn Injuries:
People who have suffered and survived the agony of second, third and even fourth degree burns describe the pain they experienced as among the most severe of all traumatic injuries.  Personal injuries involving severe burns commonly result from explosions, premises fires, defective products, motor vehicle collisions, electric shock, as well as accidental exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation.

Slip and Fall/Premises Liability:
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and can cause serious personal injury.  Most slip and falls happen in commercial settings, such as grocery stores, drug stores, office buildings, construction sites, gas stations and malls, but they also happen on private property.  Premises Liability accidents can include toxic exposure, animal attacks, swimming pool accidents and amusement park ride accidents.  In any event, there exist duties on the part of the property owners to maintain the property responsibly and avoid the existence of hazardous conditions.

Dangerous or defective conditions may be large or small, temporary or permanent.  Therefore, investigation of the claim is essential to a successful case.  Temporary conditions such as water on the floor of a grocery store, or snow and ice on the stairs of a restaurant need to be investigated quickly.

Aviation Accidents:
Aviation accidents occur in a variety of different situations.  While the most common aviation accidents are those involving commercial airlines, many accidents occur with private airplanes, as well as commercial and private helicopters.  The leading causes of commercial airline accidents include engine failures, controlled flight into terrain, approach and landing, loss of control, runway incursions and weather (including turbulence).  Private or "general" aviation accidents can include controlled flight into terrain, weather, loss of control and runway incursions.  Aviation law governs the operation of aircraft and the maintenance of aviation facilities.  Both federal and state governments have enacted statutes and created administrative agencies to regulate air traffic.

In 1958, The Federal Aviation Act was passed establishing the Federal Aviation Agency.  There have been several subsequent acts passed by the federal government regulating aviation such as the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970, and the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.  The main source for aviation law is federally based.  States are prohibited from regulating rates, routes, or services of any air carrier authorized under the Federal Aviation Act to provide interstate air transportation.  States are not prohibited, however, from enacting consistent laws, or from altering existing remedies under state law.

Vehicle Accidents:
Legal claims that arise from vehicle accidents are typically governed by the law of negligence.  Any individual who negligently operates a motor vehicle may be required to pay damages to an injured victim.  A personal injury case involving a vehicle accident may become formalized through civil court proceedings or may be resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed.  Vehicle accidents can include:

• admiralty and maritime law
• ATV accidents
• automobile accidents
• aviation accidents
• bicycle accidents
• boating accidents
• commercial bus accidents
• cruise ship accidents
• intersection accidents
• motorcycle accidents
• pedestrian accidents
• rear end collisions
• semi-tractor trailer accidents
• school bus accidents
• SUV rollover accidents
• train accidents
• truck accidents
• yacht accidents

The surviving family members of a fatally injured accident victim may be able to bring wrongful death charges against the defendant.

Automobile Accidents:
A car accident is a collision involving an automobile and anything that causes damage to the automobile, including other automobiles, telephone poles, buildings and trees. Sometimes a car accident may also refer to an automobile striking a human or animal. Car accidents — also called traffic collisions, auto accidents, road accidents, personal injury collisions, motor vehicle accidents and crashes — kill an estimated 1.2 million people worldwide each year, and injure about forty times this number.

Bicycle Accidents:
According to the Federal Highway Administration, over 67,000 cyclists in the U.S. are injured every year in accidents involving motor vehicles.  Many cyclists who are injured in bicycle accidents are unaware that they have a personal injury case and that they may be entitled to compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills and lost incomes.  A cyclist may be entitled to receive compensation for an injury sustained because of a pothole, poor road or defective sidewalk.  There are state mandated residential and commercial bicycle laws, which entitle cyclists to observe different traffic rules than cars, trucks and other motorized vehicles.  This may mean that the cyclist is not legally responsible for an accident. 

Motorcycle Accidents:
Motorcycle riders are often exposed to dangers not met by automobile drivers and other motorists on the road.  The lack of any substantial protective barriers, as well as the difficulty that other motorists may have in seeing or stopping for a motorcycle, leaves riders prone to serious personal injury in the event of an accident.

Train Accidents:
Train accidents can result in injuries such as sprains and fractures, catastrophic injury such as head trauma, brain damage, paralysis and loss of lives or property.  Train accidents can include derailments, collisions with passenger vehicles or other trains, grade crossing accidents or accidents due to mechanical failure.  It is the railroad company's responsibility to ensure that there are appropriate signals and gates at every railroad crossing for safety precautions.  If the railroad company fails to take such precautions, they are liable for any injury or death that ensues.  Victims of train accidents may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, property damage, lost wages and loss of earning capacity. 

Defective Products:
Products liability refers to a manufacturer or seller being held liable for placing a defective product into the hands of a consumer.  Products liability cases may include defective or poorly designed machinery, tools, motor vehicle defects, recreational products, pharmaceuticals and other defective products and equipment.  A person injured by a defective or dangerous product may be eligible to file a lawsuit for product liability.  Damages can be recovered under one of the following categories:  strict products liability; negligence or breach of warranty.   

Wrongful Death:
A wrongful death occurs when a person is killed due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual, company or organization.  A legal action for wrongful death belongs to the decedent's immediate family members, usually a surviving spouse and children, and sometimes parents.  Under certain circumstances, unrelated minor children living with and supported by the decedent may also bring a claim for wrongful death.  In order to bring a successful wrongful death cause of action, the following elements must be present:

• The death of a human being caused by another's negligent or intentional conduct.
• The survival of family members who are suffering the loss of financial support, love, care, comfort, supervision, guidance, household assistance and general society previously provided by the deceased.

The general rule in wrongful death cases is that one is entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages which are suffered as a result of the loss of a loved one.  Economic damages in a wrongful death case include an award for the financial contributions which the decedent would have made to his or her spouse, children and/or parents had he or she survived.  It also includes the recovery for funeral service expenses in memory of the decedent and for burial cost.  Non-economic damages include loss of love, society, companionship, comfort, affection, solace or moral support. 

If you or someone you know needs the skilled representation of an experienced Denver Personal Injury attorney, call Stephen Holmes today at 866-927-1728, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation.

If you or someone you know needs the assistance of an experienced Denver Personal Injury attorney, call Stephen Holmes today at 866-927-1728, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Stephen P. Holmes, Attorney at Law
7384 S. Alton Way
Centennial, CO 80112
Phone: 866-927-1728
Hours: M-F, 8:00AM-5:00PM
Services provided after-hours

Other Locations:

Boulder
East of Foothills Parkway
4845 Pearl East Circle, Suite 101
Boulder, CO 80301
Just off Pearl Street

Centennial/Aurora
3131 South Vaughn Way, Suite 135
Aurora, CO 80014
Corner of Parker Road & 225

Colorado Springs
1155 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Suite 111
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
N. Academy & Kelly Johnson Blvd. (Presidio Building)

Denver (downtown)
1624 Market Street, Suite 207
Denver, CO 80202
Corner of 17th & Market Street

Lakewood/Golden
1767-A Denver West Boulevard
Golden, CO 80401
Northwest of I-70 on Denver West Blvd.

Louisville
357 S. McCaslin Blvd., Suite 200
Louisville, CO 80027
SW corner of McCaslin & Century Drive (Behind Tapestry Spa, Dairy Queen & Chipotle)

Longmont
2101 Ken Pratt Blvd., Suite 200
Longmont, CO 80501

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

• Attorney Stephen P. Holmes

Mr. Holmes is a 1981 graduate from Colorado State University with a Business Administration degree and a major in Accounting. He became a Certified Public Accountant in Illinois in 1985 and prior to attending law school he worked as an auditor for a Denver, Colorado CPA firm.

Mr. Holmes received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1985 from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois. At DePaul he was the Recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Property Law.

As co-author of of The Forensic Expert’s Guide to Litigation, LRP Publications 1996, Mr. Holmes’ book examines the role of expert witnesses in the litigation process. This book is widely used today as reference in the personal injury law community.

Mr. Holmes is a Member of the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations as well as the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. His REPORTED CASES include: The landmark Colorado Supreme Court decision of In re: Elizabeth Johnson v Charlotte Trujillo and Martin McNicholas, 977 P.2d, 52 (Colo. 1999) concerning the privilege and nondisclosure of medical and psychological records not concerning the areas of the body for which injury and damage are not being claimed; Christopher Denmark v. the State of Colorado and Board of Directors, Auraria Higher Education Center, 954 P.2d 624 (Colo. App. 10/30/97) cert. denied 5/11/98. This case concerned the waiver of governmental immunity for a student who was injured during a physical education class on the athletic fields of a college campus.

Mr. Holmes has been a guest lecturer on numerous occasions to undergraduate and graduate college students. He was a featured speaker to professors and professionals at a symposium regarding personal injury claims held at Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado.

Mr. Holmes has experience in a diverse area of injury cases such as auto and other transportation accidents, cases against drunk drivers, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, premise liability, recreational accidents, wrongful death and serious injuries resulting in such conditions as paralysis, brain, spinal and joint trauma. Mr. Holmes has worked directly with each and every client over the 23 years of his practice and will continue to provide this direct personal representation for current and future clients. This approach is not only rewarding but is appreciated by the clients.

• Jurisdictions Attorney is Licensed in: Colorado
• Date Admitted to the Bar: 1985
• Colleges Attended, Degree & Year Graduated: Colorado State University, B.S.-- Business Administration with accounting major, 1981; DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1985
• Professional Memberships & Member of Denver and Colorado Bar Associations; Member Colorado Trial Lawyers Association