What are my options after a car accident on a Georgia college campus?
Report the crash to campus police, get medical care, document the scene and keep every record. As a driver, passenger or pedestrian, you may have a claim against whoever caused the crash, covering medical bills, lost wages and in some cases lost tuition. The Scott Pryor Law Group reviews campus car accident cases in a free consultation.
Key takeaways
- Report a campus crash to campus police or security right away.
- The first steps are the same for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
- A claim can cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in some cases lost tuition.
- Talk to a lawyer before you accept any settlement offer.
- Georgia sets a deadline to file a lawsuit. Check it early.
What should I do right after a car accident on a college campus?
Report the crash to campus police or security, get medical care even if you feel fine, and document the scene. The Scott Pryor Law Group gives the same first steps to every student hurt in a Georgia campus car accident, as a driver, a passenger or a pedestrian, because they protect both your health and your claim.
Take these steps in order, as far as you are able:
- Report the crash to campus police or security right away.
- Get medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor.
- Document the scene with photos, and get names and contact details from witnesses.
- Notify your insurance company about the crash.
- Keep records of every medical visit, treatment and expense.
- Talk to a personal injury lawyer before you accept any settlement offer.
If you were on foot or on a bike, the same steps apply. Get the driver’s name, insurance details and plate number if you can, and photograph the spot where you were hit.
Your campus is supposed to be a safe place. A crash there can leave you with medical bills, missed classes and a lot of questions at once. These steps keep your options open while you sort out the rest.
What causes car accidents on college campuses?
Many Georgia college campuses are built for walking, so cars share the road with people on foot, on bikes and on skateboards. Add distraction, alcohol, new drivers and packed parking lots, and the risk of a car accident rises. The Scott Pryor Law Group looks at each of these when it investigates a campus crash.
Walkable campuses are good for students, staff and the community. They also create more chances for a car to hit someone than a street with little foot traffic.
Other common factors include:
- Distracted driving, such as texting, conversations and eating behind the wheel
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances
- Inexperienced drivers on campus roads they do not know
- Crowded parking lots with limited visibility
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that alcohol-related crashes remain a serious safety concern on college campuses.
The cause shapes the evidence. A distracted driver may leave phone records behind, and our guide to proving distracted driving covers how that is done. If you were hit on foot, our pedestrian accident page explains your rights. Cyclists can start with our bicycle accident page.
What injuries are common in campus car accidents?
Campus car accidents cause the same injuries as crashes anywhere else in Georgia, from whiplash and broken bones to brain and spinal cord injuries. The Scott Pryor Law Group values each campus car accident claim around the injury and its long-term cost, because some injuries need care for years.
Minor to moderate injuries include:
- Whiplash and neck strains
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Cuts and bruises
Catastrophic injuries, which cause severe harm or permanent disability, can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Severe burns
- Disfiguring injuries
- Amputations
The cost of treating these injuries can climb quickly. Some need ongoing care and rehabilitation, and a catastrophic injury may need care for life. That is why a claim has to account for future treatment as well as the bills you have today.
For brain, spine and burn injuries, see our Georgia catastrophic injury lawyer page.
What can a student recover after a campus car accident?
A Georgia campus car accident claim can cover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and in some cases the tuition you lost when your injuries forced you out of class. The Scott Pryor Law Group counts every loss, present and future, before it presents a car accident claim.
Economic damages
These are the losses you can measure:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages from missed work
- Reduced future earning ability
- Property damage
- Transportation to medical appointments
If you had to drop classes, or failed them because of your injuries, you may also be able to recover the tuition you lost. Keep every record from the school: withdrawal forms, emails with professors and tuition statements. They help support that part of the claim.
Lost wages count for students too, whether the job was on campus, an internship or part-time work off campus.
Non-economic damages
These cover personal losses:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Psychological trauma
No figure undoes what you went through. A claim still holds the responsible party accountable for more than the bills.
Punitive damages
In some cases, punitive damages also apply. Punitive damages are reserved for situations where the defendant's actions demonstrate willful misconduct, fraud, malice, or gross negligence. O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1
Our guide to what a Georgia car accident case is worth explains what drives the value of a claim.
How long do I have to file a claim after a campus car accident?
Georgia sets a deadline to file a lawsuit after a campus car accident, and a strong claim takes time to build before it. The Scott Pryor Law Group checks your dates on the first call, and asks early whether a public college or other government body was involved in the crash.
The deadline: Victims generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
A claim involving a public college or another government body raises different questions than a claim against another driver. Tell us early if the college, its staff or its vehicles were involved.
Evidence fades much sooner than the deadline. Campus video can be recorded over, and witnesses graduate and move away. Early medical records matter too, because they link your injuries to the crash.
If months have already passed, call anyway. We will review your dates with you and give you an honest answer about where your claim stands.
How can a lawyer help after a car accident on campus?
A lawyer investigates who caused the crash, values your losses and deals with the insurers while you recover and get back to class. For students hurt in a Georgia campus car accident, The Scott Pryor Law Group offers a free consultation, and you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Fault on a campus can involve more than one party: another student, the college, campus security or a vehicle maker. Our guide to who is at fault in a campus car accident covers how fault is proved.
When you hire us, we:
- Investigate how the crash happened and who shares the fault
- Count every loss, including future care and lost tuition
- Negotiate with the insurance companies
- Take the case to court when an insurer will not be fair
We represent injured people throughout Georgia from our offices in Peachtree Corners and Lawrenceville. See how we handle these cases on our Georgia car accident lawyer page. Schedule a free consultation. Phones answered 24/7.
Hurt in a car accident in Georgia? The consultation is free. You don't pay unless we win your case.
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