Maison Law represents students injured on California State University Campuses. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury on any of the CSU campuses, Maison Law can help you receive full compensation for the damage done to your life.
California State Universities are considered government property, so while lawsuits against the government are more complicated, it is important to know that there are still legal avenues toward receiving full compensation. Call, text, email, or stop by our offices for a free, no-obligation case review to see what legal options are available for injuries on California State University Campuses.
Legal Considerations for Personal Injury Victims on CSU Campuses
From hazardous classroom and dorm conditions to sports-related injuries, college students face a higher risk of injuries than anyone else on college campuses. Understanding your legal rights and the California State University’s responsibility for your safety can ensure you are fairly compensated if you suffer an injury on a CSU campus. Depending on the details of your case, the CSU system may be liable for:
- Premises liability: unsafe conditions such as a wet floor, broken stairwell, or unrepaired floor
- Negligence: failing to follow safety regulations or ignoring potential hazards to students
- Sports-related injuries: athletes or students participating in gym activities are susceptible to sprains, fractures, and concussions if there are unsafe conditions or improper supervision
- Assaults: assaults on college campuses can come in the form of fights or hazing if there is improper campus security or rules are half-hazardly enforced
If you or a loved one has been injured due to any of the above scenarios, Maison Law can help you take the proper legal action to ensure you are properly compensated for your injuries.
How to File a Claim Against California State University
When you file a claim against the California State University system for a personal injury, you will be attempting to resolve the issue between yourself and the university without getting lawyers invovled. To do this, you must submit a written personal injury claim that includes the following:
- Your name and address
- Address where you’d like to receive notice
- Date, location, and circumstances surrounding the incident
- A general description of damages caused by the incident
- The name or names of the CSU employee (if applicable) or employees that caused the injuries
- The dollar amount you are claiming, including estimated amount of prospective loss
- If you are claiming more than $10,000 you must state if your lawsuit will be considered a limited case (less than $25,000) or an unlimited case (a demand for more than $25,000).
Your claim will need to be signed by you, or a parent or guardian who can sign on your behalf. The letter must also be filed with CSU Office of Risk Management within six months after the incident or mailed to The CSU Office of the Chancellor Risk Management, 401 Golden Shore 5th Floor, Long Beach, CA, 90802-4210.
Premises Liability on California State University Campuses
The California State University system has a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions on their campuses. A violation of this legal obligation is considered a premises liability. Examples of the university’s responsibility to prevent hazardous conditions include:
- Ensuring walkways, dorms, classrooms, and other facilities are safe and up to code
- Addressing hazards such as wet floors, broken stair railings, or inadequate lighting to prevent injury
If California State University fails to exercise reasonable care over their property and someone gets injured, they can be held liable for a premises liability according to California’s Civil Code 1714(a), which states:
“Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person, except so far as the latter has, willfully or by want of ordinary car, brought the injury upon himself or herself.”
“Assumption of Risk” Doctrine in Sport/Gym Injuries on California State University Campuses
The “Assumption of Risk” doctrine states that a plaintiff should not be able to recover for injuries when the plaintiff willingly assumed the risk of the activity by participating in it. An example of this would be working out in the gym or most sports-related activities, such as soccer, football, basketball, or hockey. Each sport comes with a risk of injury since these are high-impact, contact sports.
So, any willing participant in these sports or a workout at the gym would not be allowed to sue California State University for their injuries under the Assumption of Risk Doctrine. However, there can be exceptions, which we’ll cover in the next section.
Limitations of the Assumption of Risk Doctrine
The Assumption of Risk Doctrine protects individuals, property owners, and business owners from being sued by those engaging in a dangerous activity, but there are limitations to how much protection is offered. For example, let’s say a college student is injured while competing in a flag football league for fun one weekend on the campus lawn. Under the Assumption of Risk Doctrine, they cannot sue the California State University system for damages. However, certain aspects of the injury may overrule the doctrine and allow them to sue for damages.
What if an opponent intentionally sought to harm and injure this player? What if the lawn was not maintained or kept in good condition to prevent injuries? What if lawncare equipment or tools were left on the lawn by campus employees, and the student was unaware of them? These are risks that a person cannot assume, which may allow them to sue the university or a third party for damages even though they engaged in a dangerous activity.
Filing a Lawsuit Against California State University Campuses
Filing a lawsuit against a public university system like California State University is more complicated than suing a company or individual because public universities are considered government entities. However, it is not impossible to sue a public university for compensation. If you would like to file a claim against CSU, your first steps should be to file a notice of your claim against the school district and wait for the district to complete an investigation of the incident.
To file a claim against California state agencies or employees, you will need to go to the California Department of General Services, Office of Risk Management. This site allows for any person to file a government claim to receive compensation for damages caused by the state of California.
If the school district does not take action after a certain period of time or denies some part of the claim, then Maison Law will help you file a lawsuit against the university. To see what legal options are available, contact Maison Law today for a free case review.
What is a Personal Injury on California State University Campuses Worth?
When a lawsuit is filed by an attorney on behalf of the plaintiff in a personal injury case against a California State University, a settlement may be offered at any time. In fact, nearly 95% of civil cases are resolved through settlement deals, rather than with a jury verdict in a trial. So, a settlement is the likely outcome.
Before you decide whether or not to settle, you need to understand how much your lawsuit is worth. The value of your case will largely be determined by the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Pharmaceuticals, wheelchairs, crutches, or whatever else is needed to help you live with your injury
- Lost wages
Another determining factor in the value of your case is non-economic damages, which include:
- Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Stress and anxiety due to the nature of your accident
- Your mental state after a life-changing accident
- Loss of consortium (to be filed by an immediate family member due to loss of love or companionship)
Victims are eligible to request more money for their non-economic damages if they:
- Had a long recovery period
- Required invasive medical treatment, or medical treatments that were ongoing
- Were particularly painful injuries
- Had obvious physical signs of the injury like scars, or loss of a limb
- Contained severe injuries that resulted in permanent physical alterations or disability
Contact a California State University Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries due to a premises liability or a careless act on a California State University campus, Maison Law is here to get you the maximum compensation for the damage done to your life. College is meant to be a time of growth and positive change, not a major setback.
That’s why, at Maison Law, we take the necessary legal action for you to be compensated for all current and future damages you may face after an accident on a CSU campus. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action. Contact Maison Law today for a no-cost, confidential consultation and case evaluation.
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