Maison Law represents the victims of accidents and trauma that occur at California college sororities such as Lambda Sigma Gamma. Our personal injury lawyers demand support for injured students and devastated families when Greek organizations are negligent in their duty to keep people safe. That can include the dangerous act of hazing that puts students at risk. We provide a free, no-obligation consultation for all victims. Contact us to set up a confidential case review.
Do I Need a Lawyer After an Injury at a Sorority House?
If your injury is serious or you are left with trauma from something that happens at a sorority or fraternity house, you should speak to a lawyer about your case. When medical bills and other damages will be expensive, legal representatives for fraternities work even harder to place the blame on the victim or get you to accept far less than is fair for what you’ve been through.
A skilled California Sorority Accident Attorney is an important shield against this kind of treatment, especially after victims have already been put through so much. A Maison Law attorney fully investigates each case and makes sure a sorority can’t cover up what happened. Our lawyers demand the most in benefits possible for victims and family members so they can heal and rebuild their lives.
Potential Risks for Members and Pledges at Lambda Sigma Gamma
According to its website, Lambda Sigma Gamma was started at Sacramento State in 1986. It currently has over 10 chapters across California and Arizona. Chapters have become fixtures on small and large campuses such as Notre Dame de Namur University, Sonoma State, UCLA, and Fresno State.
Students join to be part of a sisterhood and to learn to make a difference in the community. They also get the chance to socialize and party with their sisters and other Greek organizations. This interaction can lead to dangers for members and guests. Sororities are supposed to watch over their members and prevent accidents and situations that can lead to attacks.
When they are negligent in this duty, and someone gets hurt, victims and their families should be able to expect justice and full support to aid in recovery. In the same way, universities and colleges might also be liable for the actions of a sorority on its campus if the school allowed reckless behavior on or off campus to continue.
These are just a few of the preventable dangers a sorority or a school may be held financially liable for:
- Sexual assault and rape
- Physical assault
- Emotional trauma involving humiliation and embarrassment
- Hazing injuries
- Alcohol poisoning
- Other underage drinking hazards
- Fall hazards at events
- Injuries suffered at unsafe Greek games
- Bonfire and beach day dangers
- Discriminatory behavior
- Negligent security that leads to criminal acts
- Gross Negligence
- Wrongful Death
If you or your child suffer a serious injury at a sorority event, it’s a good idea to talk over your case with a skilled California Sorority Accident Lawyer. Sororities are large organizations, and in some cases, run by large corporations. They’ll have the funds to defend themselves and to attempt to discredit you. Allow a Maison Law attorney with experience battling large entities to fight back on your behalf.
Sorority Hazing Injury Dangers
Hazing injuries remain a top concern in fraternities and many sororities. These rituals meant to induct new members into Greek Life can expose pledges to alcohol poisoning and physical harm. Hazing can leave sororities wide open for litigation when they don’t ensure the safety of participants. Hazing is also illegal in California.
Under CA Penal Code Section 245.6, also known as Matt’s Law, anyone caught hazing someone or planning to haze someone, even with no injury involved, can face misdemeanor charges. A fine of up to $5,000 and up to a year in jail is possible. If someone is seriously hurt or killed during the hazing, guilty parties will face felony charges and much more serious punishments.
Despite the legislation, it’s an ongoing issue for sororities, including Lambda Sigma Gamma. In a recent case, the sorority was suspended from Chico State for four years. The Orion said the ban came after reports of hazing within Lambda Sigma Gamma were confirmed in 2023.
Don’t stay silent if you are the victim of physical or emotional abuse in a hazing ritual. Reach out to a California hazing injury lawyer for a confidential case review to go over your options for seeking justice.
Will I Have to Wait On a Criminal Trial to File an Injury Claim Against a Sorority?
No. Victims file a civil claim after an incident results in an injury or death. Any criminal charges filed over what happened would be settled separately. Victims and their families can file a civil lawsuit whenever they are ready.
Victims and their families file personal injury claims seeking money for help in recovery. These can be filed at any time, even if a criminal trial hasn’t started yet.
The outcome of a criminal trial doesn’t affect your civil claim. A Greek organization may have to pay out damages in a settlement even if found not guilty by a judge in a criminal trial. Your lawyer would seek a fair settlement for you and your family, but also be ready to seek justice by filing a lawsuit and taking a sorority to court if insurers refused to accept blame.
Compensation Available for California Sorority Victims
Your lawyer will demand full compensation for every hardship you and your family have endured since a damaging incident on Sorority property or at a Greek event. In some cases, the university itself could also bear financial responsibility for allowing a problematic Greek organization to continue accepting members.
Your lawyer determines every party involved and then files as many lawsuits as necessary. Your lawyer will be demanding compensation for your medical bills and any care you could need in the years ahead. Your lawyer also demands support for some factors you may not have known could increase the compensation you receive:
- The costs of current medical treatment and any care expected to be necessary in the future.
- Costs relating to the pain experienced as a consequence of the accident.
- Support for emotional distress a frightening accident or attack causes. Support for the shame and humiliation a victim may feel due to what happened. Money to pay for psychological counseling.
- Potential future income loss if permanently disabled and unable to work.
- Support to cover the setbacks to the educational progress of a student. Perhaps money for a victimized student to enroll at another college.
- Income lost from a college job.
- Reimbursement for personal property damage.
- Wrongful death benefits. Families may file wrongful death claims against fraternities and sororities. These claims would seek assistance with funeral costs and leftover medical expenses. A Sorority Wrongful Death Attorney would also demand support for the future
Contact a Lambda Sigma Gamma Personal Injury Lawyer
Maison Law aggressively protects victims and loved ones after an accident or attack at a Greek house or a Greek-sponsored event. We want to handle the frustrating negotiations with lawyers for reckless social organizations and universities. Our California Sorority Accident Lawyers will be fighting for justice while victims are allowed to focus on healing and families are permitted to grieve a loss.
Maison Law offers a free and confidential case consultation to all victims who suffer harm on campus or at a Greek house. Contact us today and let us answer your questions and go over the best options for holding a fraternity or sorority responsible for their negligence.
And if you require our help to earn justice, you won’t have to worry about having the money to hire Maison Law. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you and your family. Then our fee comes out of the settlement sororities and their insurers must pay you.
