Personal Injury Attorney for FIT Students Injured on Campus
College campus accidents could happen for a number of reasons. When students least expect it, they could suffer an injury that could leave them saddled with expensive medical bills, and that could affect their ability to attend class. Unfortunately, college campus accidents happen more frequently than you might think. If you were a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology and you were injured on campus, you should consult with an experienced NYC personal injury attorney.
At Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP, we are prepared to help you file a claim if you were injured on campus due to the negligence of another party. Our firm understands how a serious injury could affect your personal and academic life, and we are here for you. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your claim, contact Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP at (718) 843-0300, or contact us online.
How Premises Liability Works
Premises liability is a broad term that is used to encompass a wide range of legal claims. A premises liability claim deals with the obligation of a property owner to keep their property free of hazards that could injure people who traverse the property. For example, if a property is undergoing construction and visitors on the property are not made aware of this fact, they could injure themselves.
Proving that a property owner did, in fact, own the property where you were injured is necessary to prevail in a premises liability claim. After proving that a defendant owned the property in question, the next issue to address is the status of the plaintiff when they were injured on the property.
Property owners have a duty to correct any hazards that could injure a visitor to their property or a person that is on the property to bestow a benefit upon the property owner. A student at a university would fall into the latter category as they are paying to receive an education at the institution.
In some cases, a property owner may even be liable for injuries to a trespasser. However, liability for an injury to a trespasser is more likely if the property owner creates an unreasonable risk of danger on the property, like setting a trap.
A plaintiff must also show how they were injured on the property, whether it was a slip and fall accident or an issue with malfunctioning equipment like an escalator. All elements of a claim must be proven for a plaintiff to be able to claim damages for their injury.
To learn more about premises liability cases and what to do if you were injured on campus, you should continue reading and consult with an experienced NYC premises liability attorney.
What to Do if You Were Injured on Campus
If you are a student at FIT, and you were seriously injured due to an accident on campus, you should take the following actions if you are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit. The first action you should take is seeking immediate medical attention for your injuries. Even if you do not believe that your injuries are severe, it is possible that you sustained an injury that will not exhibit signs or symptoms for days or weeks.
You should also gather information about the cause of your injuries. For example, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident, it would be prudent to know whether the accident was caused by a dangerous condition that should have been corrected by the university. In other circumstances, a student could be injured in a car or biking accident. If this occurs, you could be dealing with a personal injury claim against the driver instead of a premises liability claim.
If anyone was able to witness how your accident occurred, you should determine whether they would be willing to provide you with a statement. This would help greatly if you enter into litigation to pursue compensation for your injuries. Be sure to get the name and contact information of any person willing to provide you with a statement.
You should also remember that you only have a limited amount of time to file your injury lawsuit. Specifically, personal injury lawsuits have a three-year filing deadline in the State of New York. The reason for this is the statute of limitations which sets the filing deadline for certain types of cases. The filing deadline encourages plaintiffs to pursue their claims in a timely fashion.
NYC Premises Liability Lawyers You Can Trust
If you were injured due to an accident on campus, contact an experienced NYC premises liability lawyer today. The injury lawyers at Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP possess decades of legal experience, and we would be proud to use this experience to represent you. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP at (718) 843-0300.