As a personal injury attorney, I am saddened by the following story, but support adding rails to bunk beds at all universities and colleges, as bed rails are an important safety mechanism.
The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill is considering installing railings “on bunk beds in its dorms after a woman fell to her death in her daughter's room last month.” (AP for Findlaw 9/10). The 49 year old mother, who was visiting her 19-year-old daughter last month, suffered a fatal injury to her head when she fell from the top bunk in her daughter's room.
Housing director, Larry Hicks, confirmed that he had received nearly 70 requests for rails prior to the fatality, and requests have increased in its aftermath.
