Universities can be held liable for injuries occurring on college campuses when they fail to maintain safe conditions or breach their duty of care to students, faculty, and visitors. Pennsylvania law recognizes that colleges and universities owe a duty to provide reasonably safe premises, adequate security measures, and proper maintenance of facilities. When universities fail to address known hazards, provide inadequate lighting in dangerous areas, or ignore security threats, they may face significant liability for resulting injuries.
The attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. understand the complex legal issues surrounding university liability and premises safety. We help injured students, faculty, and campus visitors pursue compensation when colleges fail to maintain safe environments or provide adequate protection from foreseeable risks.
Legal Duties Universities Owe Students and Visitors
Pennsylvania law establishes that universities have legal obligations to maintain reasonably safe conditions on their campuses for students, employees, and visitors. This duty extends beyond basic property maintenance to include adequate security measures, proper lighting, safe walkways, and protection from foreseeable criminal activity. Universities must regularly inspect their facilities, address known hazards promptly, and provide appropriate warnings about dangerous conditions.
The relationship between universities and students creates special legal obligations beyond those owed to typical property visitors. Courts recognize that students live, work, and study on campus for extended periods, creating a heightened duty of care. Universities also have duties regarding third-party criminal activity on campus, requiring them to take reasonable steps to protect students when they know or should know about criminal patterns in specific areas through security personnel, cameras, improved lighting, or restricted access during high-risk periods.
Common Types of Campus Injury Cases
Campus injuries occur in various settings and circumstances, each presenting unique liability considerations for universities. Slip and fall accidents represent a significant category, often resulting from poor maintenance of walkways, stairs, or common areas where universities fail to repair broken sidewalks, remove ice and snow promptly, or address hazardous building conditions. Dormitory and housing-related injuries frequently involve security failures, inadequate fire safety measures, or structural problems including insecure entry systems, malfunctioning smoke detectors, or improper emergency exits.
Several specific scenarios commonly result in successful liability claims including inadequate security leading to assaults or robberies, poorly maintained athletic facilities causing sports-related injuries, dangerous laboratory conditions resulting in chemical exposure, unprotected construction hazards in high-traffic areas, and food poisoning incidents in campus dining facilities. Campus transportation accidents, including shuttle bus crashes or parking structure incidents, may also result in university liability depending on ownership and operation of the transportation systems involved.
Proving University Negligence and Liability
Establishing university liability requires demonstrating that the institution breached its duty of care and that this breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries. Successful cases typically involve showing the university knew or should have known about dangerous conditions and failed to take reasonable steps to address them through investigating incident reports, maintenance records, security logs, and prior complaints about similar hazards. Evidence preservation plays a crucial role, as universities may quickly repair or modify dangerous conditions after accidents occur.
Expert testimony often proves essential in university liability cases, particularly regarding building codes, security standards, and premises safety requirements. Personal injury attorneys work with qualified specialists to evaluate whether universities met appropriate safety standards and followed industry best practices for campus security and maintenance. Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence laws allow recovery even when injured parties bear some responsibility for their accidents, provided the university’s negligence contributed to the incident.
Challenges in University Liability Cases
University liability cases present unique challenges that distinguish them from typical premises liability claims. Many universities enjoy certain legal protections as educational institutions, and some may claim governmental immunity if they are public institutions, though these protections have limitations and universities can still be held accountable for dangerous conditions and security failures.
Institutional resources and legal teams often make universities formidable opponents in injury litigation. They typically have experienced legal counsel and comprehensive insurance coverage, making skilled representation essential for injured parties. Additionally, universities may attempt to limit liability through student agreements or housing contracts, though these provisions do not eliminate all legal obligations to provide reasonable safety measures.
Contact Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. for Campus Injury Cases
University premises liability cases require thorough investigation, understanding of educational institution law, and aggressive advocacy to hold colleges accountable for maintaining safe campuses. When universities fail in their duties to provide reasonable security and maintain safe conditions, injured students and visitors deserve fair compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We help clients navigate complex university liability issues while building strong cases against institutional defendants.
Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. has been recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report every year since 2010, reflecting our commitment to achieving positive outcomes for injury victims. With over 65 years of combined experience, our legal team provides compassionate representation while fighting aggressively to protect your rights against large institutions and their insurance companies. Contact us today at (215) 822-7575 or through our contact form to discuss your campus injury case.
Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C.
Pennsylvania Attorney's
October 15, 2025
