Maison Law represents and wins support for students hurt in accidents that occur at California college campuses like Sacramento State. Our personal injury lawyers get aggressive and demand compensation for injured students when universities are negligent in keeping them safe from harm.
We provide a free, no-obligation consultation for all victims and their families. Contact us to set up a confidential case review. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your injury should be worth before a university tells you it’s worth nothing at all.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Campus Accident at CSU Sacramento State?
If you are seriously hurt in a campus accident, perhaps involving a painful broken ankle or head trauma, and Sac State is responsible, it’s a good idea to speak to a California college premises liability lawyer. A serious injury will mean higher medical bills, and that prompts school systems to send teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters after you. They want to devalue your case in any way possible.
A skilled attorney fights back when insurers try to blame you for your accident or try to find doctors who will testify that your injuries aren’t all that serious. We fully investigate what happened to you so the story can’t be changed. Then we work to secure the most for your injury. That often means we win much more for your recovery than you could by taking on a university yourself.
Who Is Responsible If I Suffer an Injury on CSU Sacramento’s Campus?
If the actions or inaction of CSU employees contribute to an injury, victims can file claims with the California State University System and receive support for their medical bills and other damages.
Compensation is never guaranteed, and students still in recovery must often provide evidence to force a university to accept responsibility and offer financial help. Then there’s the question of how much money a patient may need to pay all of their hospital costs, their physical therapy expenses, and to have enough to cover any future injury flare-ups.
California premises liability laws hold Sacramento State liable for the safety of all students, staff, and any visitors. They must protect guests as they walk hallways and breezeways. They must take action to reduce hazards in classrooms and in dorm bathrooms. It’s a tough job on a campus with so much daily foot traffic and vehicle traffic.
However, state ordinances require universities to monitor for potential accident risks at all times and to take action when hazards appear. It might be someone spilling French fries on a stairwell, creating a slippery spot. It might be a contractor who leaves wires exposed while renovating a dorm suite.
The law maintains that owners and operators must fix these problems in a reasonable amount of time and warn students of any ongoing dangers. When universities are negligent in their duties and delay repairs or replacements, they can be 100% accountable when someone gets hurt.
What Type of Campus Accidents Can I Receive Support For?
An attorney with Maison Law can help parents file claims for their young students over these types of Cal State Sacramento campus accidents and many others:
- Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall hazards in hallways, in campus bathrooms, in parking lots, and on crumbling sidewalks. Accidents in dorm buildings such as Riverview Hall.
- Stairwell dangers, including trash on steps, rotting steps, and unsecured railings.
- Hazards found at sports venues where the Hornets play. Also risks in large auditoriums, at gyms like The Well, and cafeterias.
- Accidents at sorority or fraternity houses and at Greek events.
- Electrical shock risks in dorms and classrooms.
- Exposure to hazardous substances in labs.
- Accidents while riding school transportation, on field trips, or at off-campus learning sites.
- Hiring faculty and staff without proper background checks or training to safely oversee students.
- Colleges engaging in negligent security, leading to students being victimized in assaults and other crimes. This might be due to poor lighting, door security latches that don’t work, or a lack of security guards.
Injured students can seek support after an accident on Sac State’s campus, but compensation is not automatic. Universities will be arguing over who was to blame. They’ll also dispute how bad an injury is and how long recovery will take.
Only strong evidence and knowledge of California personal injury laws will force the California State University system to accept liability and do the right thing. It’s a good idea to have a skilled attorney at your child’s side during this process. Maison Law would investigate what happened, look into who was involved, and offer proof of the ways a school and its staff could have prevented an accident.
Common Injuries for Students on Unsafe Campuses
Any of the accident risks mentioned above can send victims to the hard floor, expose them to dangerous amounts of electricity or chemicals, or leave them tumbling down a dilapidated set of stairs.
Student victims can end up at UC Davis Medical Center emergency room, or even at the hospital’s Level I Trauma Center.
These are just a few of the most common injuries victims might be treated for:
- Broken arms, legs, ankles, hip, and knee fractures
- Spinal injuries, including neck and back injuries
- Skull fractures
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Eye injuries
- Hearing damage
- Cuts and deep puncture wounds
- Exposure injuries when in extreme heat or cold
- Drowning and near-drowning risks at the Sac State Aquatic Center and on Lake Natoma
These injuries might totally change a person’s life temporarily or over years. It’s why the level of compensation that students receive is so important.
Victims don’t just need money to pay for a quick trip to an emergency room. They could also require support for the recovery journey ahead that might include injury relapses, additional surgeries, long-term pain, and extended and expensive physical therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is filing an injury claim against a public school complicated?
Yes, in many cases. Government entities and public institutions enjoy legal protections against litigation. To begin with, the statute of limitations on state university-involved cases can be much shorter than in normal personal injury cases. Victims may only have months, often 6 months, to file a claim or lose their chance forever. A case filed with a state school will require victims to fill out complicated paperwork. These documents must not have errors, or they can be used as an excuse to reject the case. You must also alert the university to your accident and intention to file a claim. It’s like asking for permission to seek damages. You’ll also have to face off against lawyers for the state. It’s a great idea to even the playing field by having your own experienced lawyer on your side. Your lawyer can take care of complicated filings and make sure you don’t miss sneaky deadlines.
What types of things are compensated in a campus accident settlement?
Students and their parents must seek money to pay 100% of their medical bills. The physical pain and emotional trauma a student is put through must also factor into a settlement check. The student’s lost income while they are away from a Campus job must be reimbursed. The student must receive the university’s help in resetting their college educational track if they must miss weeks or entire semesters of classes. Wrongful Death claims: Families are empowered to seek financial help if a university’s mistake claims a precious life.
What if I can’t afford to pay a college premises liability accident attorney?
You won’t need any upfront money to hire a skilled lawyer to handle your case while you focus on healing. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement that the school system must pay you.
Contact a CSU Sacramento Premises Liability Attorney
Maison Law aggressively protects students and their families after an accident on a state university campus. We want to handle the frustrating negotiations with lawyers working for the Cal State system. Universities are quick to accept tuition checks each year, but they must also be first in line to help students who are injured on campus.
Maison Law offers a free and confidential case consultation to all victims who suffer harm on campus or at a Greek house. Contact us today and let us answer your questions and go over the best options for holding a school or organization responsible for their negligence.
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