Hurt or Injured on a Rochester Campus? 

Here’s How to Get Paid for Your Injuries

Getting hurt on campus is more than just painful, it throws your whole life off track. A personal injury attorney  at Horn Wright, LLP, can help you fight back and get what you deserve. You’re stuck dealing with doctor’s appointments, missed classes, and unexpected bills you never planned for. It’s not fair, and you shouldn’t have to deal with it alone. 

If a Rochester university, fraternity, or campus event put you in harm’s way, you’ve got rights. Let’s talk about how you can fight back and get the compensation you deserve.

Is Your Rochester University Responsible for Your Injury?

You pay a fortune in tuition, so your school should at least keep you safe, right? If they don’t, a personal injury attorney can help hold them accountable. Colleges have a legal duty to provide a secure environment. If they fail and you end up hurt, they should pay, not you.

When is a college legally at fault?

Universities are responsible for maintaining a safe campus. That means fixing broken staircases, keeping sidewalks clear in the winter, and making sure dorms and buildings aren’t full of hidden dangers. If they ignore these responsibilities, they can and should be held accountable. Think about these situations:

• Slipping on a wet floor: If a janitor mopped but didn’t put up a warning sign, the school could be responsible for your fall. This is especially dangerous in high-traffic areas like dining halls, libraries, or academic buildings, where students rush between classes.
• Falling in your dorm: A loose railing on a staircase or a broken ceiling in your dorm? If the university knew about it and ignored it, that’s negligence. Even something like a malfunctioning elevator or faulty locks on doors can create serious safety hazards.
• Getting hurt at the campus gym: Faulty equipment or a lack of supervision could mean the school is on the hook for your injuries. If a treadmill suddenly stops mid-run or weights fall due to poor maintenance, the school could be found liable.

What should you do if your school’s negligence hurt you?

If you think your injury happened because your university dropped the ball, here’s what you need to do:

• Take pictures or videos of the hazard before they try to fix it.
• Get medical help—even if you feel okay, you need documentation.
• Report it to campus officials and ask for a copy of the report.
• Talk to a Rochester lawyer who knows how to take on universities and win.

Campus Assaults in Rochester: When Colleges Ignore Security Risks

No one should have to feel unsafe at school, but too many colleges fail to protect their students. A personal injury attorney can help if your school’s negligence led to harm. The Clery Act requires colleges to disclose campus crime statistics and take steps to improve safety, if they don’t, they could be held accountable. If you were assaulted on campus because security was weak or nonexistent, your school might be responsible.

How schools fail to prevent violence

Your university should take student safety seriously. That means:

• Well-lit pathways: Dark areas make it easy for attackers to hide. Universities should ensure all campus walkways, parking garages, and dormitory entrances are well-lit to minimize risks.
• Active security patrols: A security presence deters crime. Schools should have a visible, proactive security team patrolling high-risk areas, particularly at night and during large campus events.
• Emergency call boxes: If they’re broken or too far apart, help might not come fast enough. Schools should regularly test and maintain these systems to ensure students can reach security instantly in an emergency.

If your school ignored past incidents or let dangerous areas go unchecked, they could be held liable.

What can you do if your school failed you?

• Gather evidence—police reports, witness statements, anything that proves your school knew about the risks.
• Report the assault to both campus security and local police.
• Get support—many schools have counseling services, and there are groups in Rochester that can help.
• Speak with a lawyer—they can help you hold the school accountable for failing to keep you safe.

Rochester Hazing Disasters: Can You Sue a Fraternity?

Hazing isn’t “just part of the experience.” It’s dangerous, and when it leads to serious injuries or worse, someone must answer for it. If a fraternity’s so-called tradition put you in the hospital, you may be able to sue.

When does hazing cross the line?

Hazing is illegal, plain and simple. Under the Anti-Hazing Laws, fraternities and other organizations can face severe penalties for putting students at risk. If a fraternity forced you into a dangerous situation, they should be held responsible.

• Alcohol poisoning: If you were pressured into drinking until you blacked out, that’s not “brotherhood”—it’s reckless endangerment. Universities should strictly enforce alcohol policies and discipline organizations that promote binge drinking.
• Physical abuse: Forced fights, beatings, or exhaustion tactics aren’t bonding—they’re abuse.
• Psychological trauma: Hazing isn’t always physical. If you suffered severe emotional distress because of it, you still have a case. Emotional hazing can include verbal abuse, forced isolation, or extreme sleep deprivation—tactics that can leave lasting scars.

Who can be held responsible for hazing?

• The fraternity members involved—the ones who planned and carried out the hazing.
• The national fraternity—if they knew hazing was happening and didn’t stop it.
• The university—if they looked the other way or let the fraternity keep operating despite complaints.

If you were a hazing victim, don’t just brush it off. Get help, report it, and find out what legal options you have.

Don’t Let a Rochester Campus Injury Ruin Your Future—Act Today!

Your school, your fraternity, or your campus event organizers should’ve kept you safe. If they didn’t, you shouldn’t be the one paying the price. At Horn Wright, LLP, our Rochester personal injury attorneys fight for students like you. If you're ready to take legal action, you should consider working with professionals who know how to win—hire one of the best law firms in America. You deserve compensation for your medical bills, lost tuition, and pain and suffering.

Your education and future matter—don’t let an institution sweep your injury under the rug. If your rights under laws like the Title IX Law have been violated, you may have additional legal options. 

Call us today for a free consultation, and let’s make them pay.