What Do I Do if I’m Injured as a Student at Mizzou, Stephens College, or Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri?

Don’t Let a Personal Injury Claim Derail Your College Education. Contact Duckworth Injury Law to Support Your Injury Claim

Columbia, Missouri is often referred to as a “college town” due to the large volume of college students comprising its population during the school year. The largest of these colleges is the University of Missouri (“Mizzou”) with a total student population of 31,543 as of 2024. Columbia College adds another 2,564 full time students on its campus, while Stephens College contributes an additional 500-600. 

However, college can be a stressful time for many students. From learning to navigate a new city, to making new friends, to living independently for the first time, and to trying to earn good grades, it’s a lot to balance for anyone – no less an 18–22-year-old young adult. The last thing a college student needs to deal with on top of a seemingly never-ending list of responsibilities is trying to deal with a personal injury claim. And with so many college students living and attending school in Columbia, personal injury causing accidents to college students are inevitable. 

So, if you’re injured due to the negligence of another person or entity while a student at Mizzou, Stephens College, or Columbia College, what should you do? While the particular course of action you should take may very depending on the nature and severity of your injury, the following steps apply to most college students experiencing a personal injury accident. Learn more from Duckworth Injury Law’s insightful attorney.

After experience a personal injury in Columbia, MO, obtain emergency medical treatment if necessary 

If your injury-causing accident warrants emergency medical treatment, do not hesitate to request emergency medical services such as an ambulance or emergency room treatment. While many college students are hesitant to incur medical bills (as finances are usually tight during college) these medical bills will ultimately be paid by the at-fault party or their liability insurance carrier. Further, documentation of your injury by a medical professional will ultimately be beneficial in pursuing a personal injury claim.

After being discharged from emergency care, be sure to follow through with all recommendations made by the emergency provider, including all follow-up appointments, physical therapy, prescription orders, etc. If you are discharged without further instructions, pay attention to your body, pain level, and symptoms to see if you should seek further care on your own. 

Be sure to preserve evidence relating to your accident in Columbia, MO

Depending on the nature of your accident, the specific evidence you need to preserve will vary. For example, suppose you are injured due to a defective and/or dangerous condition on Mizzou’s campus (such as an uncovered manhole or a broken workout machine at the Rec Center). In that case, you will want to take photographs and/or videos of the dangerous condition. Or if you are hit by a vehicle while crossing Walnut on Stephens College Campus, you should take photographs of the at-fault party’s vehicle, driver’s license, and insurance information. Or maybe you are driving to class at Columbia College on your motorcycle and a truck rear-ends you. You’ll need to take pictures of the scene and obtain the defendant’s and other witnesses’ contact information.

Don’t forget to report the accident to the proper Columbia, MO authorities 

Ensuring your accident is reported to the proper authority is important in establishing liability against the at-fault party, documenting when, why and how the accident occurred, and potentially placing the at-fault party on notice of the accident. If you are involved in a car, motorcycle, or truck collision off campus, you should contact 911 for the proper law enforcement personnel to arrive at the scene. If you are injured due to a dangerous condition on your college’s campus, you should contact your college’s law enforcement and/or security division and follow through with them in submitting an accident report. 

No matter where or how you are injured on a college campus, be sure to contact an experienced personal injury attorney in Columbia, MO who can help you navigate a claim

After you have received necessary medical treatment, have preserved accident evidence, and have reported the accident to law enforcement or campus security, it is often in your best interest to next consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Columbia, MO. 

A personal injury lawyer will be able to assist you in pursuing your accident claim, allowing you to focus on your recovery and getting back to your normal life as quickly as possible. Your personal injury attorney will gather additional evidence, provide recommendations on medical treatment, and pursue compensation against the at-fault party and/or their insurance company for your damages. Further, your lawyer will ensure your medical bills are being processed by your health insurance and/or are placed on a lien to be paid from your settlement proceeds. 

Speak with your schoo’s academic advisor and your professors for assistance in accommodating your personal injury & claim

Most schools will offer accommodations to allow you to continue with your classes and for you to stay on track with your academic plan. These accommodations often include things such as providing extended deadlines, mobility assistance (helping you get to class), classroom aides, or remote learning (online classes). 

If your injuries are severe enough, your academic advisor may assist you with applying for a leave of absence from the school or help you with requesting to withdraw from a class with an “Incomplete” grade – typically, doing so will allow you longer recovery time without affecting your GPA. 

A personal injury may impact your mental health. Speak with the mental health department, counselor or therapist available at your Columbia, MO college

As mentioned, college is already a stressful time for many students, and a serious injury or accident can often exacerbate and/or create new mental health and emotional trauma. As such, it’s important that you prioritize your mental and emotional well-being in addition to your physical recovery. Many colleges provide mental health services such as counseling or therapy at little to no cost for their students. If your school offers such services, do not hesitate to reach out to discuss your concerns relating to your injury accident. If your school does not offer such services, ask your primary care physician for a referral to a mental health provider.

Rely on your friends & family for support after experiencing a personal injury in Columbia, MO

Last but not least, rely on your support network following your injury-causing accident. An injury causing accident may leave you with little ability to do some of the common activities of daily living such as shopping, cooking, cleaning, or running errands. While you may feel you are “burdening” your friends and family by asking for help, most people are glad to do so and feel rewarded by helping another person in their time of need. This may mean going home for a few weeks to live with your parents or simply asking your friends and family to stop by your apartment once or twice a day to help you with things. 

Don’t Try to Handle Your Personal Injury Claim Alone. College Students in Columbia, MO Can Rely on Personal Injury Attorneys Like Duckworth Injury Law

If you are a college student in Columbia, MO attending the University of Missouri, Stephens College, or Columbia College, and you are injured in an accident caused by someone else, don’t try to take on your personal injury claim alone. As a college student, you likely have enough other responsibilities to handle, or if not, there are plenty of other things you’d rather do! 

An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to ensure that you obtain maximum compensation for your injury claim while you focus on recovery, academics, and getting back to your normal life. At Duckworth Injury Law, personal injury and wrongful death law is all our law firm handles. Our office is conveniently located between all three campuses in downtown Columbia (across from Harpo’s Bar & Grill). If you’re a college student experiencing a personal injury claim, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free case assessment today.