10 Potential Injuries College Students Might Suffer on Campus

Studies show that in 2020, there were 19.5 million college students in the US. 

In state, California Community Colleges reported a total of 1.8 million students. Locally, major LA schools like the University of Southern California and University of California Los Angeles have student populations over 40,000.

Students are constantly running from building to building on campus to make it to their next class. While most go unscathed, there are sometimes injuries on campus.

Imagine a situation where a student falls and suffers a personal injury. Suddenly, a quantum physics exam doesn’t seem so bad.

A slip and fall accident is extremely common. Falls account for over 8 million emergency room visits every year. They can happen when you least expect it.

Situations where a student may slip or fall on a college campus include:

• Rushing to class and tripping over an uneven floor or sidewalk
• Loose handrails and staircases that lead to a fall
• Slipping on a wet surface, like a recently mopped floor, or on a spilled beverage in the cafeteria
• Improperly managed elevators
• Poor lighting in a building that leads to a misstep

This type of personal injury case would fall under premises liability because it occurs on someone else’s property. In this case, it’s an injury on the college campus.

For a claim to be considered, the injured student must prove negligence of the college or university in providing a duty of care for their safety. 

Let’s say numerous students have been complaining about a faulty staircase they are required to pass through to get to a specific classroom.  Despite numerous requests for maintenance, the college doesn’t do anything to fix the problem.

A portion of a tile on the staircase breaks off one day, causing a student to fall down the other stairs and break their wrist.

Under premises liability, the college needed to provide a duty of care for the student. In this situation they didn’t, even after multiple student complaints.  

The injured student may choose to file a claim following their injuries, especially if they have documented proof of the students who contacted the college about the issue. 

If students aren’t running from class to class, they may be driving in circles trying to find a parking spot, or speeding so they don’t miss their film history presentation.

Speeding or distracted driving are key factors in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians can suffer serious injuries after being hit by a car.

In California, nearly 7,500 pedestrians died between 2009 and 2018. California Vehicle Code 21950 states that drivers approaching a pedestrian must exercise care to protect pedestrians. 

If you are hit on a college campus, it’s important to get to safety as quickly as possible.

Call 911, and get first-responders to the scene as soon as you can. There should be campus security or police that can also help.

Don’t turn away any medical attention. It’s important to be evaluated even if your injuries don’t feel severe, or if they seem to not exist at all. 

Gather any and all information about the vehicle that hit you. Get their name, drivers license number, insurance, license plate info, and more. 

Take photos and videos of the scene to help document what happened. 

Speaking with a pedestrian accident lawyer may help you determine the best steps to take if you plan to pursue a case for compensation.

Our team of Los Angeles college injury attorneys at C&B Law Group are here to help you following an on-campus injury.

Injuries you may suffer include:

• Serious neck injuries or frequent pain
• Broken bones or torn ligaments
• Head injuries like a traumatic brain injury
• Fractures, sprains and strains
• Damaging back injuries or chronic pain
• Cuts and lacerations that scar or disfigure
• Organ damage
• Internal injuries such as bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Wrongful death

At C&B Law Group, we will work to help you hold all negligent parties responsible for your injuries.  Our practice has a fundamental set of core values that center around helping injury victims recover compensation. 

Possible compensation we can recover includes:

• Medical costs, like current or past bills
• Loss of wages
• Pain and suffering

If you were injured at a college campus, contact C&B Law Group to learn more about a free consultation!