A University student fell off a balcony during a party hosted at a private residence last weekend. The incident occurred on the 500 block of 14th Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The student, age 21, accidentally fell the 15 feet from the balcony of the rental property to the ground. After receiving treatment for minor injuries, the student was released from the hospital the same day.
Sgt. Dan Stuart of University Police said alcohol was involved in the incident, which took place shortly after midnight.
For students living on private rental properties, accidents such as this can be a source of legal concern.
In most cases, liability issues for student tenets would "likely be resolved in court," said Wade Tremblay, general manager of Wade Apartments, a Charlottesville-based apartment company.
While legal action may be pursued when accidents occur on rental property, rarely do they affect the terms of the lease. Tremblay explained that in most cases, even if student tenets "act irresponsibly ... it still wouldn't relieve them of contractual obligations."
Overall, the best way to avoid legal issues with personal liability is to "act responsibly" at all times, Tremblay said.
In the case of the student injured Saturday night, Stuart said no legal action has been taken on behalf of either the student or the tenet of the rental residence thus far.
In light of the incident, University representatives stressed the need for practical conduct both on and off Grounds.
"Safety is a primary concern to us," Associate Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said.
Laushway stressed that even though this incident occurred off Grounds, it highlights safety concerns relevant to the entire University community.
"Clearly all of our students need to take care of themselves and to care for the well-being of others," Laushway said. "Avoiding precarious situations is extremely important"
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