When Are Colleges Responsible for Injuries on Campus?

Bill Allen | June 27, 2025 | Personal Injury

When Are Colleges Responsible for Injuries on Campus?

Colleges and universities are meant to be places of learning, safety, and community. However, when an accident occurs on school property, it’s not always clear who is responsible. If you were hurt on campus in Florida, you may be wondering whether the college can be held legally liable for your injuries.

In many cases, the answer depends on the concept of premises liability, which is a part of personal injury law. Read on to learn more about how this area of law works and when colleges may be responsible for what happened.

Premises Liability and Duty of Care

Under Florida premises liability law, property owners must keep their grounds reasonably safe for people who are lawfully present. This includes removing known hazards, warning visitors about dangers, and conducting regular inspections. Colleges, like other property owners, have a legal duty to protect students, visitors, and staff members from preventable harm.

That said, a college is not automatically responsible for every injury that occurs. You still have to prove that the school either knew or should have known about the danger and failed to fix it or warn you. That’s often the key factor in determining whether the college can be held liable.

Types of Accidents That May Lead to Liability

A wide range of incidents can happen on a college campus. Not all of them will result in a successful claim, but some of the most common scenarios that may give rise to liability include:

  • Slip and fall accidents due to wet floors, uneven pavement, or poor lighting
  • Defective staircases, elevators, or handrails that are not properly maintained
  • Inadequate security in dorms or parking garages leads to assaults or thefts
  • Unsafe conditions in campus housing, such as mold, fire hazards, or broken locks
  • Accidents at school-sponsored events due to poor crowd control or improper supervision

If your accident involved any of these circumstances (or something similar), there’s a chance the school or a third party might be held responsible.

What To Do After an Injury on Campus

If you’re hurt while on a college campus, it’s important to take action right away. What you do in the hours and days after the accident can affect your ability to file a claim. Here are some tips to protect yourself:

  • Report the incident to campus police or another appropriate authority
  • Take photos of the hazard or area where the accident occurred
  • Get contact information from any witnesses
  • Seek medical care, even if you don’t feel badly hurt at first
  • Avoid admitting fault or making statements about the incident
  • Contact a personal injury lawyer to evaluate your options

Depending on whether the college is a public or private institution, your timeline for filing a claim may be different. Public universities are considered government entities, which often means different deadlines and additional procedural steps.

Contact Our Gainesville Personal Injury Law Firm at Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers in North Central Florida

Getting hurt on a college campus doesn’t always mean the school is legally responsible. However, in many cases, you may have a valid claim worth pursuing. If the college, for instance, failed to maintain safe conditions or ignored a known hazard, you could be entitled to compensation.

Since the time limits for filing a claim can vary depending on whether the school is public or private, it’s a good idea to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as you can. Most lawyers in this area offer free consultations and only get paid if they recover money for you, so there’s nothing to lose in reaching out.

If you need legal assistance, contact the Gainesville personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today, we’re open 24 hours daily.

We have three convenient locations in Marion County and Alachua County, North Central Florida:

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Gainesville Office
2550 SW 76th St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Downtown Gainesville
621 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(866) 928-6292

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Ocala Office
112 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258