What To Do If You’re Injured While Walking on Campus
Each day, college campuses are filled with students walking around, heading to class, back to their dorm, off to lunch, or through the parking lots to their cars. And while campus administrations do their best to protect students while they’re walking, incidents can still occur. Below are some simple steps to follow should you find yourself injured while walking around campus.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
First and foremost, you’ll want to handle your injuries. Your health is the most important thing, so it should be a priority over all else. If your campus has a local health facility, you may be able to visit depending on your injuries and operating hours. For more serious injuries, you may need to call an ambulance or visit the nearby hospital. It’s a good idea to have emergency contact information on hand, including nearby emergency health clinics, so that you don’t have to search for it while also dealing with an injury.
Report the Injury
Once you’re in no immediate health danger, you can then focus on the next steps. One of the first things you’ll want to do is report the injury. You should notify campus security or the administration about the incident. In many cases, you’ll need to fill out an official formal report so that you can file an insurance claim. Notifying security or the administration can also help you catch the perpetrator of the incident if they fled the scene or allow campus officials to take steps to prevent injuries to others.
Document the Incident
Next, you’ll want to document the incident for yourself, as you may need this information when filing an insurance claim or during any legal proceedings. Start by taking pictures of the incident scene, including anything that contributed to the incident. For example, if you slipped on a patch of ice, you can take pictures of the icy area where it occurred.
In addition to photographing the incident scene, you should also take pictures of any injuries. These, along with medical records, may be essential to receiving insurance assistance. Finally, if possible, get written statements from any witnesses and write down information about the incident, such as the time and date of when it occurred. The more documentation you collect, the better.
Speak with an Attorney
In some cases, you may wish to speak to an attorney after your injuries. It’s often a good idea to speak to an attorney if someone else was responsible for your injuries and you’re concerned about receiving appropriate financial compensation.
Pedestrian accidents often occur due to negligent or reckless behavior by drivers. These accidents can happen in crosswalks, sidewalks, parking lots, and other areas where pedestrians have the right of way. Victims of pedestrian accidents may be entitled to various types of compensation, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and punitive damages.”
A personal injury attorney can provide you with advice on what steps you should take and help ensure that you receive any money you’re entitled to. If you’re unsure if you need a lawyer, it often doesn’t hurt to reach out to a nearby attorney, describe your situation, and see what they have to say.
Talk with Professors or Supervisors
In the event of significant injuries, you may be out of commission for a period of time. In this case, you’ll want to talk to your professors and any work supervisors. Let them know about the incident and that you’ll need accommodations accordingly. For example, you may need some additional time to submit an assignment or some time off of work while you recuperate. Most professors and supervisors are understanding in situations like this and are willing to make accommodations to help you out.
File an Insurance Claim
If you paid for medical expenses as a result of your injuries, you’ll want to file an insurance claim through your insurance provider. For some students, this could be a campus health plan, while others have their own private insurance. Whichever is applicable to you, follow their process for submitting an insurance claim. This will likely consist of gathering medical records, bills, and any incident reports and then submitting them to the insurance provider.
Follow Medical Advice
Lastly, follow any medical advice you receive following your injury. Depending on the severity of your injuries, it may take some time to fully recover. Some people can grow frustrated during this time and skip recommendations from medical professionals. However, doing so can actually make your injuries worse and slow down your recovery time. For example, if your doctor recommends staying off your feet for five days, you should do your best to follow this advice. Whether it’s rest, medication, or follow-up appointments, ensure proper recovery by following all expert advice.