What Happens If My Child is Injured at College?
For any parent, sending a child to college can be a challenging time filled with mixed emotions. You may be proud of your child’s accomplishments and excited for what they are about to experience, while at the same time feeling sad about your child moving out of the house and nervous about them living on their own. As this new school year begins, many students are about to embark on a fun and rewarding college experience, but unfortunately, for some students, their parents’ worst fears may come true. If your child is injured at college, you should be sure to understand your legal options for handling the situation.
Alcohol-Related Injuries Among College Students
Many students view college as an opportunity to try things that they were not able to do while living with their parents, and unfortunately, this often includes binge drinking. The first few weeks of college are some of the most dangerous, both because of the many social events where alcohol may be available, and the fact that many students do not fully understand the effects that alcohol will have on their bodies and mental faculties. Students who binge drink, or even those who are around others who are binge drinking, may be at risk of injury in a number of ways, including:
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Drunk driving accidents - As passengers, drivers, or pedestrians, students on or near college campuses may be at risk of injury at the hands of a drunk driver. In the most serious cases, these injuries can be fatal.
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Assault - Students who are under the influence of alcohol may be more prone to physical altercations that result in injury, and they are also at greater risk of being victims of sexual assault.
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Hazing incidents - Particularly for those students who are pledging at fraternities and sororities, hazing can pressure them into consuming dangerous amounts of alcohol, sometimes while engaging in other dangerous activities that pose an injury risk.
While it may be a student’s own choice to drink to some degree, many alcohol-related injuries are caused by another person’s intentional actions or negligence. As such, injury victims may be able to recover compensation for the damages they suffer.
Other College Campus Injuries
In addition to alcohol-related injuries, college students are at risk of injury from many of the same hazards as anyone else. For example, they could be injured in a campus building due to unsafe premises, or in a pedestrian or bicycle accident due to heavy vehicle and foot traffic on campus. If your child is injured in one of these circumstances, it is important to determine who may be liable.
Contact a Grand Rapids Personal Injury Attorney
Attorney John D. Tallman understands the stress that parents of college students are under when it comes to their children’s safety. If your child has been injured at school, contacting an experienced Kent County personal injury lawyer as soon as possible can help you obtain the evidence you need to hold the negligent parties accountable. For a free consultation, call us today at 616-361-8850.
Source:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/college-drinking
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