College should be a time for students to learn, build friendships and prepare for their future. But an unexpected injury can change a student’s college experience in seconds.

For students at the College of Charleston, the risks are not limited to what happens inside a classroom or residence hall. The College’s downtown Charleston campus is integrated into a busy urban environment filled with vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles and scooters. Students participate in NCAA athletics, club and intramural sports, fraternities and sororities, student organizations, parties and other activities both on and off campus.

When a student is seriously injured because of someone else’s negligence, unsafe property conditions, violence, hazing, a traffic collision or another preventable incident, the student and family may have important legal rights.

At Steinberg Law Firm, our Charleston personal injury attorneys represent injured people throughout the Lowcountry and South Carolina. We investigate not only what happened, but also why it happened, who had responsibility for preventing it and whether warning signs were ignored.

Student Injuries at the College of Charleston

With nearly 12,000 students and a campus located in the heart of downtown Charleston, the College of Charleston presents safety issues that can be different from those at a more isolated college campus.

Potential student injury cases may involve:

• Car, pedestrian, bicycle and scooter crashes
• Sexual assault and rape
• Physical assaults
• Negligent or inadequate security
• Hazing and fraternity or sorority activities
• Sports and athletic injuries
• Club and intramural sports
• Dangerous campus buildings, stairs and walkways
• Falls and premises liability
• Alcohol-related injuries
• Unsafe extracurricular activities
• Defective equipment
• Injuries involving rideshare drivers
• Drunk or impaired drivers
• Wrongful death

The fact that an injury happened while someone was a student does not automatically make the College responsible. Liability depends on where the incident occurred, who controlled the property or activity, what caused the injury, what the responsible parties knew or should have known and other circumstances.

College of Charleston Campus Crime and Safety Statistics

Crime statistics provide important context for students and parents.

According to data compiled from federal higher-education safety sources, the College of Charleston reported 381 crime and safety-related incidents involving students in 2024, including incidents occurring on campus, on affiliated properties and on public property around campus. Of those, 314 were reported on campus and 60 involved public property in the surrounding Charleston area.

Federal data for 2023 also show 28 reported criminal offenses associated with the College, including 13 reported rapes, four fondling incidents, four burglaries and four motor vehicle thefts. All 13 reported rapes were classified as occurring on campus, according to the data.

Earlier College of Charleston crime statistics likewise show that sexual violence has not been limited to a single year. The College’s published statistics recorded 10 on-campus rapes in 2019, 10 in 2020 and six in 2021.

Crime statistics must be interpreted carefully. A reported crime is not necessarily a proven crime, and campus crime data do not capture every dangerous incident or injury. Sexual assault in particular is widely understood to be underreported.

Sexual Assault, Rape and Negligent Security

Sexual assault cases require particular sensitivity. A survivor may have rights separate from any criminal investigation or university disciplinary proceeding.

Depending on the circumstances, potential civil claims can involve the person who committed the assault as well as other parties whose negligence contributed to the opportunity for an assault to occur.

Questions may include whether:

• There were prior similar incidents or complaints.
• A dangerous person was known to the institution or organization.
• Security policies were followed.
• Doors, locks, cameras or access-control systems were functioning.
• Adequate security personnel were provided.
• A fraternity, organization, landlord or property owner ignored dangerous behavior.
• Alcohol was illegally or negligently provided.
• Officials failed to act after receiving warnings of dangerous conduct.

The College itself notes that its Timely Warning system may be used for crimes presenting a serious or continuing threat, including sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault. The College also offers public-safety escorts and other security resources.

A particularly serious recent case illustrates why security cases require a detailed investigation. In December 2025, a former College of Charleston public safety officer was charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree criminal sexual conduct and misconduct in office after an alleged incident involving an incapacitated woman.

According to an affidavit reported by local media, a passerby encountered the woman near King and Spring streets and flagged down the officer, who agreed to take her home. Investigators alleged that the officer intentionally turned off his body camera before transporting her and that roommates subsequently found him inside the residence with the woman. The College suspended and then terminated the officer and said it was cooperating with Charleston Police. The charges are allegations and do not by themselves establish civil or criminal liability.

Cases involving an employee or someone placed in a position of trust can raise additional questions about hiring, training, supervision, retention and whether earlier warning signs existed.

Fraternity, Sorority and Hazing Injuries

Hazing can go far beyond harmless initiation rituals. It can involve forced drinking, drug use, sleep deprivation, physical abuse, dangerous physical activities, humiliation and psychological abuse.

The College of Charleston has faced recent litigation involving allegations of fraternity hazing.

In 2024, a former CofC student and his family filed a lawsuit seeking $10 million after alleging severe hazing associated with the Iota Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Chi. The complaint alleged that pledges were subjected to excessive alcohol consumption, drugs and physical abuse. The student alleged that the experience eventually caused him to withdraw from the College and lose tuition expenses and scholarship benefits.

Another lawsuit filed in 2024 involved a different College of Charleston student who alleged repeated hazing associated with the same fraternity chapter. According to the lawsuit, the student alleged that he was forced to consume vodka until he blacked out and later suffered PTSD, panic attacks and other problems that ultimately contributed to his withdrawal from school.

These are allegations contained in civil lawsuits, not findings that every defendant was legally responsible.

Hazing cases demonstrate why an investigation should look beyond the students who directly participated. Depending on the facts, questions may arise about a local chapter, national organization, property owner, adult advisor, event organizer or other entity that knew or should have known dangerous conduct was occurring.

Sports Injuries and College Athletes

Injuries are an accepted risk of competitive sports, but accepting the ordinary risks of a sport does not necessarily mean accepting negligent medical care, dangerously maintained facilities or preventable misconduct.

College athletes can suffer concussions, traumatic brain injuries, torn ligaments, spinal injuries, fractures, heat illness and other serious conditions.

Potential legal issues can arise when there are allegations involving:

• Premature return to play
• Failure to properly evaluate concussion symptoms
• Inadequate emergency medical response
• Defective athletic equipment
• Dangerous playing surfaces
• Negligent medical treatment
• Failure to diagnose a fracture or other serious injury
• Pressure to continue playing despite an injury
• Unsafe training or conditioning practices

The College of Charleston’s student-athlete materials acknowledge that injuries occur and require student-athletes to complete pre-participation medical paperwork. The College also maintains secondary athletic insurance for qualifying sport-related medical expenses after a student’s primary insurance.

A recent College of Charleston basketball case also drew attention to the consequences of sports-related medical decisions. Connor Hickman challenged an NCAA eligibility decision after suffering a Jones fracture while previously playing at the University of Cincinnati. Litigation surrounding his medical-hardship request alleged that he continued playing after the fracture and was not initially advised that surgery was medically appropriate. The College of Charleston supported his effort to regain eligibility. The dispute was primarily about eligibility rather than a personal injury claim, but it illustrates how medical decisions involving a college athlete can affect both health and an athletic career.

Club Sports, Intramurals and Extracurricular Activities

Not every sports injury involves an NCAA athlete.

Students participate in intramural sports, club teams, outdoor activities, student organizations, recreational events and other extracurricular programs. Injuries during these activities can raise questions about supervision, equipment, transportation, event planning and facility safety.

Waivers may also become an issue. Signing a waiver does not necessarily answer every liability question. The specific language of the document and the circumstances surrounding an injury need to be reviewed.

Pedestrian Accidents Around the College of Charleston

Students at the College of Charleston routinely walk between academic buildings, residence halls, restaurants, stores and entertainment areas throughout downtown Charleston.

That puts students in close proximity to traffic every day.

South Carolina remains one of the country’s most dangerous states for pedestrians. Smart Growth America’s 2026 Dangerous by Design data ranked South Carolina fourth nationally for pedestrian danger, with 893 pedestrian deaths between 2020 and 2024.

The Charleston-North Charleston metropolitan area ranked 12th among the nation’s deadliest large metro areas for pedestrians, recording 154 pedestrian deaths from 2020 through 2024.

The problem remains current. As of September 10, 2026, preliminary South Carolina Department of Public Safety figures showed 109 pedestrians had already been killed on South Carolina roads during 2026. Charleston County had recorded 38 total traffic deaths through September 7.

For a student walking downtown, a collision with a car, SUV or truck can cause traumatic brain injuries, fractures, spinal cord injuries and other catastrophic harm.

Bicycle and Scooter Accidents

Bicycles and electric scooters are a convenient way for students to travel around the Charleston peninsula, but riders have little physical protection when struck by a motor vehicle.

Potential causes of bicycle and scooter crashes include drivers who:

• Fail to yield
• Run red lights or stop signs
• Turn across a rider’s path
• Drive while distracted
• Open a vehicle door into a cyclist
• Speed through intersections
• Drive under the influence
• Fail to check blind spots

Some cases may also involve defective scooters or bicycles, dangerous roadway conditions or problems with rental equipment.

Evidence can disappear quickly after these crashes. Security cameras, traffic cameras, vehicle data, cellphone records, witness information and photographs of the scene can become extremely important.

Car Accidents Involving College of Charleston Students

Students also face the same drunk-driving, speeding and distracted-driving risks as everyone else in Charleston.

One recent Charleston case demonstrates how devastating those crashes can become. A case involving the 2021 death of recent College of Charleston graduate Jennifer Demyan resulted in settlements totaling more than $3 million in 2025.

According to South Carolina Lawyers Weekly, Demyan was traveling on I-26 near the Dorchester Road exit when her vehicle was struck from behind by a Porsche SUV reportedly traveling more than 135 mph. Demyan died and her passenger suffered severe injuries. The driver fled the scene and was later charged with multiple offenses. The litigation also included claims involving an establishment alleged to have served the driver alcohol.

A serious college-student car accident may therefore require investigating more than the driver. Depending on the circumstances, additional liability can involve a vehicle owner, employer, rideshare company, bar or restaurant, product manufacturer or other responsible party.

Falls and Dangerous Conditions on Campus

Students can also suffer significant injuries because of unsafe physical conditions.

Potential hazards include broken stairs, defective railings, poor lighting, slippery floors, damaged sidewalks, unsafe balconies, falling objects and improperly maintained buildings.

Determining responsibility may require identifying who owned, controlled, inspected and maintained the property. For off-campus housing, that could include a private landlord or property-management company rather than the College.

Who Can Be Responsible for a College Student’s Injury?

There is no single answer. Depending on what happened, potentially responsible parties can include a negligent driver, property owner, landlord, business, fraternity or organization, event operator, employer, product manufacturer or other individual or company.

Claims directly involving the College of Charleston can be more complicated because the College is a public institution. South Carolina law imposes special rules on claims involving governmental entities, including requirements and limitations that do not necessarily apply to ordinary personal injury lawsuits.

For that reason, families should not assume that the normal rules or deadlines apply when an injury potentially involves the College or one of its employees.

What Compensation May Be Available?

Depending on the circumstances, an injured student may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, future medical care, lost income, reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent impairment and other losses.

For a college student, an injury can have consequences that extend beyond immediate medical bills. A student may lose a semester, tuition payments, scholarships, athletic eligibility or educational opportunities. A permanent injury can affect a career that has not even begun.

In the most serious cases, families may have a wrongful death claim after losing a child or young adult.

What Should You Do After a Serious College Injury?

Medical treatment should come first. After the immediate emergency has passed, preserving evidence can be critical.

Photographs, videos, text messages, social-media messages, fraternity communications, medical records, names of witnesses, incident reports, security footage and other records may help establish what happened.

Students should also be cautious about giving recorded statements to insurance companies before understanding their rights.

Cases involving sexual assault or hazing can be especially difficult for students to discuss. A civil attorney can investigate potential legal claims separately from the criminal justice system or a university disciplinary proceeding.

Talk With a Charleston Student Injury Lawyer

A college student can go from worrying about an exam or weekend plans to facing surgery, months of rehabilitation or a life-changing injury in an instant.

When that happens, the question is not simply whether the accident occurred on the College of Charleston campus. The important questions are what caused the injury, whether it could have been prevented and who may be legally responsible.

Steinberg Law Firm has represented injured people and families in South Carolina for nearly a century. Our Charleston personal injury attorneys understand the local roads, courts and communities surrounding the College of Charleston and downtown Charleston.

If you or your child was seriously injured in a car accident, pedestrian crash, bicycle or scooter collision, assault, hazing incident, sports accident, dangerous property condition or another incident while attending the College of Charleston, contact Steinberg Law Firm for a free consultation.

There is no fee unless we win your case.