Grand Rapids Area College Campus Accident Lawyer

Attorney For College Students Injured in Hazing and Alcohol-Related Accidents in West Michigan

Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas are home to many colleges and universities, including Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Calvin University, Cornerstone University, and Hope College, as well as branches of Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University. College campuses are often great communities for young people to further their education and expand their social lives, but unfortunately, they can also be the sites of accidents and injuries.

College campus accidents can be complicated, with a wide range of potentially liable parties, and if you or your child has been injured at college it may be hard to know where to begin to seek recovery. If you need a trusted ally and advisor throughout your search for compensation, you should hire John D. Tallman, Attorney at Law. We have almost 40 years of experience helping victims of all kinds of injuries in West Michigan, and with our background, we can approach any college campus injury case with confidence. We commit to staying by your side throughout your case, and we only require payment if we achieve a successful outcome for you.

Common Injuries on Michigan College Campuses

With the presence of so many students and all of the different activities on a college campus, accidents are bound to happen. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Alcohol- and drug-related injuries: Over 1,500 college students die from alcohol-related injuries each year in the United States, with car accidents and alcohol poisoning being major contributors.
• Fraternity and sorority hazing: More than half of all college students involved in fraternities, sororities, clubs, or athletic teams report having undergone hazing, which encourages them to engage in excessive alcohol consumption or other dangerous behavior. Several students have even died in hazing incidents over the past decade.
• Physical and sexual assault: Alcohol consumption on college campuses may also contribute to assault resulting in injury. Sexual assault is a particular problem, with over 10 percent of students, especially women and transgender students, experiencing non-consensual contact while at school.
• Bicycle and pedestrian injuries: Many students get to class by walking, biking, or using another means of transportation like a skateboard or electric scooter, and they may be at risk of injury in a car accident with a vehicle traveling through campus.
• Construction site injuries: Road and building construction is a frequent occurrence on college campuses, and students may be injured in accidents near construction sites if safety procedures are not followed.

Obtaining Compensation for a College Campus Injury

As with any injury in which another party may be liable, if you have been injured on a college campus you should seek medical attention as soon as possible and start collecting evidence from the scene of the accident. Take pictures of your injuries and elements of the surrounding area that may have contributed to them, as these can be crucial in building a case for compensation through an insurance claim or a liability lawsuit.

One of the most challenging aspects of a college campus injury lawsuit is determining exactly who is at fault. Depending on the type of accident, liable parties may include other students, drivers on campus, student organizations and their leaders, bars and party hosts, contracted construction and maintenance companies, and the college or university itself. If you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident, you may have trouble remembering who was directly at fault, let alone other parties who may have contributed.

This is why it is so important to have an experienced attorney on your side. We can help you investigate the cause of your accident, gather and preserve all available evidence, seek testimony from witnesses, and advise you as to all parties from whom you should pursue recovery. We will work with you to file a lawsuit and fight for full compensation for economic damages, mental and emotional trauma, and pain and suffering, either through a settlement agreement or trial litigation.

Contact a West Michigan Personal Injury Attorney

A college campus accident can put a serious damper on your enjoyment of your college experience, and we want to do everything we can to help you recover from the negative impact. Contact us today for a free consultation at 616-361-8850. We serve clients in Kent County, Ottawa County, Muskegon County, and throughout West Michigan, including in Grand Rapids, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, and nearby college towns.