Physical Hazing Lawyer

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Physical Hazing is Illegal

 

The college years can be one of life’s profound experiences. For many young adults it marks the first time away from home. For others it is a beginning of the road to a lifelong dream. And for a few, it is the chance to participate in the social life of a fraternity.

 

On many college campuses there is the tradition known as “Rush Week,” where fraternities select their next class members from among the freshmen who have indicated an interest in that “House.” After the select few have been notified of their acceptance comes the rite of initiation and the supposedly banned practice of hazing.

 

Hazing has been defined by many names. Among these is “…the imposition of strenuous, often humiliating, tasks as part of a program of … initiation.” If you add “forced alcohol intoxication,” “forced use of control substances” and “sexual harassment” you will have a good description of a fraternity hazing.

 

 

Why is Hazing Wrong?

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From the definitions given above it should be obvious why hazing is wrong in both the practical and moral senses. From a practical point, many fraternity initiations involve heavy drinking in a group that usually has very little exposure to “binge” drinking. Although the dangers associated with severe drinking are well know, expecting someone who is “falling down drunk” to preform dangerous physical tasks such as swimming or climbing some tall object is to invite disaster.

 

There are incidents every year in which fraternity pledges are killed while participating in a fraternity initiation. The causes of death are usually:

 

 

• Acute alcohol intoxication or alcohol poisoning

• Drowning

• Beating with multiple organ injuries

• Traffic accidents

 

There is a misconception that all fraternity initiations must contain some element of hazing because it “forms a bond with the larger group” (the fraternity) or “it’s a tradition.” This argument in support of the “Greek Life” falls apart when it is recalled that there are numerous fraternal and service organizations that practice initiations (e. g. Masonic lodges and the Knights of Columbus) that do not include hazing. Since these organizations have a history that is much longer than any fraternity, the practice of hazing would not seem to be an advantage.

 

 

How a Physical Hazing Lawyer Can Help You

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Physical hazing is against the law in 38 states and can result in a lawsuit in any state. Sadly, anti-hazing laws are routinely ignored and very few fraternities seem to take them seriously. On the other hand, lawsuits that seek damages from a fraternity and its officers, the college, and the national headquarters of the fraternity are taken quite seriously.

 

When a lawsuit seeking damages is filed, a fraternity physical hazing accident lawyer will establish a “chain of liability” that runs from bottom to top.

 

 

• The fraternity’s national headquarters

• Individual fraternity members who participated in or planned the hazing, as well as any members who failed to stop the initiation at the first sign of trouble

• The elected officers of the fraternity

• The fraternity’s college-appointed advisor

• The college’s administration

• The state’s Board of Regents

 

Each member or link in this chain can be held directly liable or indirectly under the “Captain of the Ship Doctrine,” which holds that the superior members of a chain of command are directly responsible for the actions of those under their command.

 

 

Damages that Can be Awarded in a Physical Hazing Lawsuit

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In a civil lawsuit, damages are awarded as a compensation for any injury or loss that occurred do to the negligence or maliciousness of another. In a fraternity physical hazing lawsuit, damages are usually sought for the following causes.

 

 

• Current and anticipated future medical expenses

• Current costs of psychotherapy and/or mental health counseling

• Damages such as emotional trauma, social shunning, and humiliation

• Damages from each party found to be liable for causing the victim’s injuries

 

Contacting a Fraternity Physical Hazing Lawyer is the First Step Toward Justice

Despite what some apologists for the “Greek Lifestyle” will say to anyone that will listen, there is no role for the physical and emotional barbarism known as fraternity initiation in a modern college education, and allowing it to continue should shame us all.

 

If you, or your son, was injured during a physical hazing sponsored by a fraternity, you should arrange a consultation with a personal injury to review the facts surrounding the hazing and to your legal options for obtaining justice. In many cases a fraternity physical hazing injury lawyer can put you in touch with clinical psychologists and medical professionals who have worked with victims of physical hazing and may be able to help everyone to work through a very stressful time.