If you are a student or a visitor at Temple University, you expect that the campus is kept as safe as possible for everyone. Unfortunately, property owners often forget the value of having adequate security to prevent the likelihood of violent assaults and other types of crime. If you or a family member was the victim of an assault while on Temple University property, contact an experienced Philadelphia premises liability lawyer today.
The Reiff Law Firm can help you determine whether Temple University should be liable for an assault that occurred on their property. Being a victim of assault can leave you traumatized while dealing with long-term injuries, and we are here to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your legal options, contact the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 515-8351, or contact us online.
When is a College or University Liable for an Assault?
Premises liability deals with the duties a property owner has to visitors and others present on their property. A property owner has the duty to correct any dangerous conditions on their property or to warn visitors of dangers they would not easily discover. For example, if a property owner is performing construction on a certain area of their property, they may have to place caution signs around the construction area.
If a property owner is aware of a high rate of crime or similar crimes happening in a certain area of their property, they may have a duty to take precautionary measures. For an institution like Temple University, that deals with over a dozen assault cases on or near school property; there is a necessity to have safeguards to protect students and others on campus.
To file a lawsuit for an assault based on premises liability, a plaintiff would have to show that the property owner acted negligently regarding certain threats to visitors in their property. For example, if Temple University was aware that multiple students were assaulted in a certain area of campus and they failed to notify students or change their safety measures, this could make them liable for an assault.
Determining what qualifies as adequate or inadequate security for an educational institution can be difficult to determine. For example, responding to frequent assaults by merely installing an emergency call box may not be an appropriate response. It might be more prudent to hire trained security guards to patrol the affected area. Other safety measures that a property owner should consider curbing the incidence of assaults and other crime include:
- Security cameras
- Sufficient lighting in crime-ridden areas
- Limiting access to residential complexes
- More frequent patrols during school hours
To learn more about premises liability for assaults and filing a lawsuit for your injury, continue reading and speak with an experienced Philadelphia lawyer for assault injuries.
When to File a Temple University Assault Lawsuit
It is important to note that the status of the victim will also be an issue when determining liability. As mentioned, property owners must warn visitors of any dangerous conditions on their property. However, if a person is trespassing on school property when they are assaulted, the school may not be held liable for that incident.
The duty of care owed to trespassers is to avoid acting recklessly with regards to hazardous conditions on a property. This means that a property owner can be liable for a trespasser’s injuries under certain circumstances.
Additionally, if a person was assaulted because they were involved in a fight by mutual consent, this can affect whether they have a valid case against the property owner.
When filing a premises liability lawsuit, it is also important to note that plaintiffs have a limited amount of time to file their claim. The reason for this filing deadline is the statute of limitations which determines the length of time a plaintiff has to file a certain type of case. If the lawsuit is not filed within this timeframe, the court may bar the plaintiff’s claim.
Outside of the statute of limitations, there are various reasons to file your case as soon as possible. For one, it will make it easier for your attorney to gather evidence regarding the incident. Additionally, if you are relying on the possible compensation from your case to help with your injuries, you do not want to wait a significant amount of time to file your lawsuit.
Philadelphia Assault Injury Attorneys You Can Trust
If you or a family member was assaulted on the Temple University campus, contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney. The injury attorneys at the Reiff Law Firm possess decades of legal experience that we will use to fight for a desirable outcome to your case. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your claim, contact the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 515-8351.
