If you are a student at Temple University or often visit the area, you do not expect to become the victim of an assault. Temple University has a duty to ensure their campus utilizes adequate safety procedures to keep students and other visitors safe from criminals that would cause them harm. If you or a family member was seriously injured after an assault at Temple University, you should consult with an experienced Philadelphia injury lawyer for assault victims at Temple.
The Reiff Law Firm knows the trauma that comes with being a victim of assault and we are here to help you pursue compensation for your injuries. Our firm is devoted to ensuring our clients receive the unique legal representation they need to litigate their claim. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your claim, contact The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940, or contact us online.
Assault Statistics at Temple University
In Pennsylvania, the crime of assault can fall into two categories: simple assault and aggravated assault. A simple assault is when an offender causes you to suffer a bodily injury either intentionally or recklessly. It is also possible for a simple assault to occur if an offender intimidates you or threatens to inflict a serious injury upon you.
Aggravated assault is defined similarly but usually involves a criminal causing a victim a serious injury or showing extreme recklessness regarding the life of another person. For example, if an offender viciously beats a victim with a bat, this is an example of aggravated assault and possibly other crimes. It is important to understand how simple assault and aggravated assault is defined to appreciate the statistics regarding the frequency of assaults at Temple’s campus.
At Temple’s main campus from the year 2015 to 2017, there were 28 reported cases of simple assault that took place on campus and in the residence halls. When looking at simple assaults that occurred on public property surrounding the school, that number rises to 45 in the same three-year span.
The number of aggravated assaults at Temple University from 2015 to 2017 is also high enough for students, faculty, and other visitors to be concerned. From 2015 to 2017, there were 13 reported cases of an aggravated assault occurring on campus and in the residence halls. Similar to statistics for simple assaults on public property surrounding the school, there were 24 reported cases of aggravated assault from 2015 to 2017 on public property.
With this high number of both aggravated assaults and simple assaults, Temple students may feel unsafe while simply trying to attend their classes. Our firm is here to help victims of assault determine who can be held liable for their injuries. To learn more about filing a lawsuit for assault, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Philadelphia premises liability attorney.
Filing a Premises Liability Lawsuit After an Assault
Premises liability is an area of law that deals with injuries caused to a person due to the negligence of a property owner. For example, if a property owner fails to shovel their sidewalk of snow and ice and a pedestrian falls and breaks a bone when walking past their property, the property owner could be held liable for their injuries.
Premises liability could also be applied in situations where a property owner did not provide visitors with an adequate amount of security in an area where others may seek to harm them. With the number of assaults around the main campus of Temple University, the school has to implement safety measures to protect students and others on the campus.
If you can determine that Temple University should be held liable for injuries stemming from an assault on their campus, you should act quickly to file your claim. In Pennsylvania, personal injury cases have a statute of limitations. This means that an injured party only has a certain amount of time to file a personal injury case. Specifically, there is a two-year filing deadline for personal injury claims in Pennsylvania.
If you do not file your claim within the allotted time period, the court may bar your claim. However, there are ways to delay your filing deadline depending on the circumstances of your case. Despite a possible filing extension, it is still best to file your lawsuit as soon as possible.
Our Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys Can Litigate Your Assault Claim
If you or a family member was the victim of an assault on Temple University’s campus, contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney today. The injury attorneys at The Reiff Law Firm possess decades of combined legal experience, and we are dedicated to using this experience to help fight for compensation for your traumatic experience. To schedule a free legal consultation, call The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.
