Negligent College Campuses and Dorm Room Security

College should be one of the most important and exciting periods of anyone’s life. Unfortunately, colleges are also potential feeding grounds for criminals, and many college students are preyed upon and become victims every day in America. If you or a loved one was victimized on a college campus, and you believe the attack could have been prevented with better security, the Cambridge firm of Altman & Altman LLP can help you fight back, no matter where in Massachusetts your attack happened.

Attacks at Colleges are Common, and Universities can be Held Responsible

Criminal Attacks on college campuses are a much bigger problem than many people realize. In 2017, there were 38,100 crimes reported on college campuses in the United States. Sex crimes are an especially serious problem. According to the Department of Justice, one in every four women (25 percent) will experience some form of sexual assault during their college years, and the ACLU reports that as many as 95 percent of those go unreported.

It is likely that a combination of excessive drinking and a cultural problem among younger individuals associated with what constitutes sexual consent contributes to the rate of campus and dorm room attacks. A majority of college sexual attacks do involve alcohol. Colleges and universities should take steps to ensure that their students are safe, and when they negligently fail to provide adequate security, they might be held legally responsible.

How to Prevent College Campus and Dorm Room Attacks

• Be safe at night
  Walk with a friend or a group, use campus escort programs, stay in well-lit areas, and be aware of your surroundings.
• Be careful when drinking
  Make sure you are hanging with real friends who you trust, and stick together. Know your limits. Don’t go home with a stranger and do not assume that someone you just met has your best interests as heart.
• Exercise caution with new romances
  Strangers aren’t the only ones who can attack you, so date with caution. When you first start dating someone who you don’t know well, don’t get in a car with him or her alone. Meet in a public place. Go out with a group. Don’t drink too much on a date or otherwise compromise your faculties.
• Lock your doors
  You might know everyone on your dorm floor or in your apartment complex and feel safe, but you still need to protect yourself from any individuals who may come from outside, and you may not know the people around you as well as you think you do.

What to do if Injured in a cOllege Campus or Dorm Room Attack

Get medical attention right away. Especially if you have been sexually attacked, do not shower or take a bath. Report the attack to the police. Finally, call a personal injury lawyer if you suspect that you have been injured because of negligent security, because we may be able to help you receive financial compensation from the college or university that failed to protect you, in order to aid in your recovery.

Altman & Altman LLP’s personal injury lawyers are among the best in Massachusetts, with over 50 years of experience fighting for our clients who have been injured due to the negligence of others. Call us at 617.492.3000 or 800.481.6199 toll-free, or contact us online for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 to answer any questions that you might have.