Accidents can occur in virtually any setting. College campuses are no exception.
Students beginning a new year must consider this. Taking basic steps to avoid being harmed in slip and falls and other such accidents can ensure a college student has a positive experience instead of spending a semester recovering from an injury.
Ways to guard against being involved in accidents on a college campus include the following:
Try Not to Walk Home While Intoxicated
Although excessive use of alcohol and other substances should not be encouraged among college students, alcohol and drugs are often fairly easy to come by on and around campuses.
Most college students know they should never drive back to campus from a party when they are intoxicated. It is always vital to have a designated driver, schedule an Uber or Lyft, or otherwise rely on similar means of staying safe.
However, college students might not realize that, in regard to their own personal safety, walking back to their dorms while intoxicated can be at least as dangerous as driving drunk. Some research even suggests a person is more likely to lose their life as a result of walking while drunk than they are if they are driving.
Someone who is intoxicated is less aware of their surroundings than a sober individual. They also may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as crossing a street when oncoming traffic is too close to stop in time to avoid an accident.
This isn’t meant to suggest college students should drive home while intoxicated instead of walking. It’s meant to highlight the importance of always making sure you have a safe and reliable means of getting home if you’re a student.
Put Your Phone Away
A quick glance at any busy college campus will prove many of today’s college students are constantly checking their phones when walking around. This behavior is so commonplace that it can be easy to forget how dangerous it is.
When you are checking your phone, you are not aware of your surroundings. This can significantly increase your chances of tripping over an obstruction, slipping on a spill, or even walking in front of a moving vehicle.
College students should make a point of putting their phones away when walking around campus and the nearby areas. Doing so is a simple but effective way to reduce one’s chances of being injured.
Don’t Expect Others to Be Responsible
Unfortunately, although college students may technically understand the dangers associated with drunk driving, some of them still drive around and on campus while intoxicated.
Consider this if you are walking on campus or near one, particularly at night on a weekend. Even if you make smart choices behind the wheel, others might not. Stay cautious and understand that drivers may be under the influence.
That said, while you might be a responsible individual, you might also one day be involved in an accident on a college campus for reasons beyond your control. For example, you could potentially be harmed in a slip and fall accident if those whose job it is to keep a campus hazard-free are negligent.
You deserve to recover compensation for your medical bills and other such losses if you are injured on campus because another party was careless. A Boston premises liability attorney at Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. can help you better understand your legal options in these circumstances. Contact us online or call us at 617-698-6000 for more information.
