Back to School: Are Universities Liable for Student Injuries?

 Posted on September 17, 2025 in Personal Injury

As students begin to return to campuses in Illinois for the fall 2025 semester, the risk for accidents increases. Colleges and universities are required by law to ensure that their facilities are reasonably safe. Accidents can happen in dorms, classrooms, labs, gyms, and other areas. Whether the school is legally responsible depends on the situation and its duty of care under premises liability law. If you or your child suffered a serious injury on campus and you have questions about recovering compensation, our Chicago, IL premises liability lawyers can help.

What Are the Most Common Student Injuries on Campus?

Significant injuries can occur from a wide range of accidents on college campuses. Common examples of injuries that could result in institutional liability include:

• Slip-and-fall accidents on poorly maintained sidewalks, damaged flooring, and broken staircases

• Dormitory hazards, including fires, electrical problems, or structural failures

• Sports and recreational accidents caused by inadequate safety measures

• Laboratory incidents, such as chemical exposure or malfunctioning equipment

• Assaults or violent acts linked to insufficient campus security

Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act, 740 ILCS 130, property owners, including universities, must keep their premises safe and fix hazards that could cause harm. Not fulfilling that duty can result in liability.

How Do You Prove That a University Is Liable for an Accident on Campus?

If you are injured on a college campus, it is not enough to show that an accident happened. You must be able to prove that the university was legally responsible. To do this, you need to establish that the school owed you a duty of care, that it failed to meet that duty, and that this failure caused your injuries. 

Proving negligence often means looking at records like maintenance logs, safety reports, and prior complaints. For example, if a stairwell was broken for months despite repeated reports, those records can show the school was negligent.

According to 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, Illinois follows a comparative negligence rule. That means that you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault, as long as you were not more than 50 percent responsible. The university may try to argue that you should have been more cautious, but if its negligence contributed to your injuries, you may have a strong case. Our team will examine your case from every angle to ensure you have the evidence needed to build your claim.

What Should You Do if You or Your Child Was Hurt at College?

Sustaining a serious injury requires swift action. In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally two years. Claims against public institutions like state universities may have shorter timelines. A lawyer can explain what type of claim you should file.

Your first steps should be to report the incident to university officials, get medical care right away, and keep evidence like photos and witness statements. Medical records are key proof of your injuries. Your attorney can use this evidence to help you build your claim.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Chicago, IL Premises Liability Attorney

At Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC, our Chicago, IL premises liability lawyers have won millions for clients in tough cases. We are committed to helping victims recover after serious injuries and major financial losses.

If you are concerned about the upfront costs of attorney’s fees, know that we handle cases on a contingency fee basis. That means no payment is required unless compensation is recovered. Contact us today at 312-605-8800 to schedule a free consultation in English or Spanish.