Maison Law represents victims of injuries at California colleges, fraternities, and sororities. These organizations offer students the ability to build lifelong friendships, but are also infamous for some of their activities. When you or a loved one have been injured in a hazing incident, our team of California fraternity accident lawyers will be there to support you. Contact us today to set up a free consultation to learn more.
When Do You Need a Lawyer?
Hazing incidents within fraternities and sororities aren’t limited to California colleges and universities, but the many different scenarios and injuries that come out of these incidents are certainly troubling. However, when it comes to your legal options and whether you need a lawyer depends on your circumstances. If the injuries were only minor, you probably don’t need to worry about taking legal action.
That said, if your injuries are more serious–which is fairly common in hazing incidents–our team can be a big help. We can explain your options, how the law works, and what you need to do to hold those responsible accountable.
Hazing Injuries and Liability
While a hazing incident and resulting injuries are in a somewhat unique environment, the legal mechanisms in place that protect you and other injury victims are the same as any other accident in California. With that in mind, figuring out who is responsible–liable–for covering your injuries and damages depends on the circumstances of what happened, but is ultimately determined by “negligence.”
In this context, it means that the responsible parties:
- Violated their duty of care to keep you and others safe, and caused injuries with an accident.
With that in mind, a number of different people and groups could bear liability in these cases. Most often, it falls on the following:
- Individual fraternity members
- Fraternity leadership
- Landlords or property owners
- College or university
- State or local government
Injuries
What makes hazing incidents so troubling isn’t just the injuries they can cause, but the fact that they are almost entirely avoidable. Most hazing-type incidents involve alcohol and other dangerous situation that can leave you or a loved one facing injuries like:
- Alcohol poisoning
- Psychological trauma
- Dehydration
- Internal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Bruises
- Sexual assault-related injuries
- Burns and fire injuries
What all of these injuries have in common is that they’re traumatic. As such, the effects can last long after the physical injuries heal. From there, it’s important to take certain steps after the accident to protect your health and rights.
What You Need to Do After a Hazing Injury
Facing a hazing injury is difficult, no matter where it happens. That said, it’s most common in college environments. This brings added issues when it comes to supervision and overall judgment. But the fact remains, California has numerous colleges and universities where this can happen:
- University of Southern California (USC)
- University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Fresno State University
- Cal-Berkeley
- Stanford
- University of California at San Diego (UC San Diego)
- San Diego State University
- Cal State Fullerton
- California State University at Long Beach
- California State University at Irving (UC Irvine)
Regardless of where these accidents and injuries happen, it’s important to take certain steps to respond correctly to the situation:
- Get medical attention, both at the scene via ambulance, then further care at an emergency room, hospital, or urgent care.
- Report the accident and injuries to the property owner or person in charge. This will hopefully stop any further incidents.
- Gather as much information and evidence as possible. Take pictures or videos with your phone and get contact information from any witnesses.
- If you have insurance coverage, file a claim and keep records of your communications.
- Preserve any evidence, and don’t repair or fix any damaged belongings.
These steps are very important for any potential legal claim, but it’s even more important for your health and safety. That should always be the top priority. Then, when that’s taken care of, you can start focusing on the legal process.
Claims Process After a Hazing Injury
Legally speaking, an injury from a hazing incident falls under the umbrella of a personal injury claim. This means that it’s viewed the same as a car accident or slip and fall. So, your legal options in these incidents are the same as any other accident, namely that you can either:
- File an insurance claim outside of court
- File a personal injury lawsuit inside the court system|
Both claims processes have a lot of similarities and some major differences. Basically, an insurance claim is a lot less formal, and while it offers quicker access to a settlement offer, it probably won’t cover all your damages. Conversely, a lawsuit usually takes longer, but offers more in terms of potential damages.
Damages
Deciding whether to take the insurance company’s offer is up to you. Depending on your needs, it may require more extensive financial support. The law allows you the opportunity to recover this support, known as damages. These usually involve:
- Medical bills – Paying for doctor visits, treatments, and any care you might need in the future because of the accident.
- Lost wages – This covers income you missed because you couldn’t work after the accident, or for any money you might not make in the future because of your injuries.
- Permanent injuries – These damages cover things related to a permanent injury, including ongoing care needs or loss of ability to work.
- Property damage – This covers repair or replacement costs for things that got damaged or lost in the accident.
- Physical pain and suffering – This covers the hurt and pain you feel because of your injury, both right after it happened and as you move forward in life.
- Emotional distress – These cover emotional damage from the accident, like feelings of stress, anxiety or depression.
- Reduced quality of life – This covers any damage to your personal life, either in ways you can’t enjoy things as you once did or damage to your personal relationships.
Obviously, every case is different. What you’re ultimately able to recover in your claim is going to depend on the circumstances and just how injured you are. At the same time, a hazing injury can be life-changing. So, it’s important to put together the strongest case possible for your damages. It’s here that our team and our experience can help.
Skilled Lawyers for Hazing Injuries in California
At Maison Law, our experienced lawyers in California know how much a hazing injury can affect you and your family. It’s especially frustrating because it was probably preventable. Our lawyers can assist you in figuring out who is responsible and holding them accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation to get a better idea of your options.
