Tampa Campus Accident Attorney
Have You Suffered an Injury at School? The School Accident Lawyers at Williams Law Can Help!
The Tampa Bay area is home to many illustrious colleges and universities, from the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa to St. Petersburg College and various other community colleges. While colleges offer their students the opportunity for personal growth and academic achievement, accidents can – and do – happen on campuses every day. If you or a loved one has incurred injury on a college campus, know your legal options. The Tampa personal injury attorneys at Williams Law, P.A. are also highly-skilled Tampa campus accident lawyers – call for a free consultation today!
Types of Campus Accidents
Campus injuries may be the result of several factors. In our time practicing law in Tampa, we’ve seen injuries resulting from unsafe conditions or the unsafe action (or inaction) of others. The following may play a role in campus-related litigation:
- Injuries resulting from drunk or distracted driving, like passenger injuries.
- Traumatic injury resulting from assault or sexual and physical violence.
- Bicycle or pedestrian accidents on campus.
- Injuries resulting from hazing or emotional abuse.
- Sports-related injuries as the result of improper equipment or training.
- Slip and fall accidents on campus.
- Injuries incurred throughout the course of campus employment.
- Injuries to minors involving improper consent from a parent or guardian.
- Incidents arising from negligent security.
Premise Liability Issues on Campus
Many campus injuries result from negligent security on campus, which is a matter of premise liability. A school may fall short of protecting students from harm when it fails to exercise reasonable care in preventing such harm from a third party on campus. The courts refer to this as the “doctrine of negligent security.”
If you or a loved one sustained injuries as the result of negligent security, you may be able to collect compensation for your medical and psychological care, as well as pain, suffering, and other damages from the incident. Contact a Tampa campus accident attorney if you have suffered an injury in the area is your best bet for getting maximum compensation.
The following may be examples of negligent security on campus:
- Prior knowledge of attacks on campus. If the school knew of a previous assault on campus but didn’t take appropriate precautions to prevent further attacks, they might be legally liable for injuries.
- Failure to maintain or provide lighting in stairwells and parking lots. For students who live on campus, failure to maintain or install locks on windows and doors in dorms could be negligence.
Campuses have a legal responsibility to protect their students while they’re on campus or engaged in sponsored activities. The notable exception to this rule involves hazing injuries at fraternity or sorority houses, as the institution likely didn’t officially sponsor such incidents. However, if the school has a record of fraternity hazing and didn’t take proper measures against the fraternity, the courts may consider the school negligent.
Slip and Fall Cases at School
The second form of premise liability case on campus involves injuries resulting from slips and falls (or trips and falls). You may be eligible to file a personal injury claim if you injure yourself on poorly maintained or constructed property on campus. Schools have a responsibility to reasonably maintain their property on campus for its students and visitors. Examples of slip and fall cases on campus include:
- Injuries incurred from a broken stair or railing.
- A broken bone resulting from tripping over an uneven sidewalk.
- Broken bones or concussions from icy or snowy walkways.
- A head injury resulting from slipping on a highly waxed floor unaccompanied by proper warning signs.
This is not an exhaustive list. There are several ways a student may slip and fall, injuring him or herself on campus. If you have questions about your case, talk to a school accident attorney at Williams Law, P.A.
Your Tampa School Campus Injury Attorney
Williams Law, P.A. is committed to protecting students from the negligent acts of universities and local colleges. We proudly offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, which means you’re under no obligation to pay us unless we win a settlement or court judgment. If you’ve sustained an injury on campus or at school and feel someone else was responsible, contact us. Our Tampa school campus accident attorneys offer free initial consultations. Let us review the facts of your case and help you determine your next steps. Schedule your free case evaluation today.