If injured at a sporting game, concert, musical festival, political rally, or other large public event, call The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani. We hold negligent parties accountable and protect your legal rights. Our team consists of experienced premises liability attorneys who fight for fair compensation.
Event attendees can be injured due to accidents; acts of violence, poor crowd management, a lack of event planning, and lapses in security can cause serious injuries. There are lots of factors that can contribute to physical harm. We’ll look at how to proceed, who to contact, and explain common hazards to avoid while at an event.
How to Proceed After an Injury at a Large Event
We know how overwhelming an injury at a music festival or other event can be. Large crowds, noise, and the size of the venue can add to the disorientation. However, if injured at a large, crowded venue, the following steps can protect your safety and strengthen your personal injury case:
- Seek Immediate Medical Care: Call 911 if you sustain a serious injury at a public event, such as a broken bone, head wound, or excessive bleeding. Seek medical attention even if the injury seems minor. An evaluation, diagnosis, and prompt treatment prevent your condition from worsening and provide a record to help build your case.
- Notify Authorities: Reporting an accident immediately establishes a date, time, and location to connect the incident and your injuries. Contact event staff, security personnel, or the police. If an incident report is filed, obtain a copy of it. This includes accurate details and the names of witnesses. It also identifies the staff that responded.
- Gather Evidence: Aside from ticket stubs and receipts showing you were at the event, collect other evidence that documents the accident. This includes photos, videos, and witness accounts. These provide insights into the nature and severity of your injury and the hazardous conditions that may have contributed to it.
Contact an Attorney
As soon as you can, contact an attorney at the Law Offices of Jacob Emrani who is familiar with premises liability law. They evaluate the merit of your case and explain your legal options. A skilled lawyer can also efficiently gather evidence, including copies of surveillance video, pictures, or witness statements. They can obtain copies of police and ambulance reports as well.
The legal process can be challenging. Your attorney, aside from gathering evidence, ensures all deadlines are met. A statute of limitations sets a deadline for how long you have to file a lawsuit. In California, you normally have two years from the date of the accident to file one. Lawyers ensure the proper steps are completed in time and know how to negotiate with insurance companies. And, if fair compensation can’t be negotiated, your legal representative can present evidence and arguments in court.
Can I Recover Compensation?
Safety hazards, acts of violence, and other factors can lead to serious injuries, for which you may seek compensatory damages. The first step is to prove negligence. Doing so requires showing the responsible party owed you a duty of care. You must then prove they breached that duty and you were injured as a result.
Negligence in the context of a large public event can include the following:
- Inadequate security
- Failure to remove known hazards
- Poor lighting
- Lack of crowd control measures
- Insufficient medical services
However, proving negligence can be more complex than it sounds, especially at a large event. There are complicating factors. Some of the biggest hurdles your personal injury attorney may have to navigate include:
- Assumption of Risk: Public events have inherent risks. People attending them are expected to be aware of these. Some risks are ever-present, while others can be avoided with reasonable precautions (which is considered in a personal injury case). However, a party can be held accountable if their negligence exceeds what’s reasonably expected in a given situation.
- Liability Waivers: At some events, attendees must sign waivers before entering. A waiver limits an organizer’s liability for certain risks. However, it may not protect them if known safety hazards were deliberately ignored or in other cases gross negligence. A liability waiver only covers hazards inherent to the activity or event.
- Insurance: Public events are usually covered by liability insurance. A venue can have $1 million or more in coverage. The amount depends on the event and where it’s located. Your attorney can investigate insurance coverage to help you get maximum compensation, which can cover medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Punitive damages may be awarded in cases involving severe injuries or egregious behavior.
Determining who is liable is another factor in obtaining fair compensation. When an attendee is injured at a large event, a liable party can be the following:
- Event Organizer: Organizers are responsible for maintaining premises, mitigating hazards, and implementing security measures. They can be held accountable for failure to fulfill these responsibilities.
- Another Attendee: Misconduct or negligence on the part of another event attendee can contribute to an accident. If an attendee’s behavior caused you harm, they may be held liable to pay damages.
- Security Personnel: Security personnel can be liable if they use excessive force or fail to take proper actions or precautions. They can be held responsible for negligence if a breach of duty contributed to your injury.
Other potentially responsible parties can depend on the hazard and type of event.
The Dangers of Public Events
Inherent hazards can vary depending on the event you attend:
Sporting Events
During a baseball game, hazards can include being hit by a stray ball. This can be considered an assumed risk you can’t sue a baseball team for (especially if the section where you’re sitting has no netting).
However, injuries can be caused by negligence on the part of reckless athletes. The venue can also be liable for an injury. Meanwhile, if security fails to protect you from rowdy fans or other hazards, security personnel can be held accountable.
Music Festivals
Large music festivals held outdoors tend to be overcrowded. Uneven ground, aggressive fans, and mosh pits are just some common hazards. Your compensation or eligibility for seeking a settlement can be limited depending on your behavior. But, despite the inherent risks of some activities, legal remedies may be available.
Concerts
Concerts, whether held outdoors or indoors, can have many dangers. Determining liability can be hard at a big event. Although rare, performers can be liable if they incite rowdiness or their act puts the crowd in danger. The venue can be responsible if safety features are not in place, elements of the artist’s set pose a danger, or unstable railings cause a fall.
Another attendee can also be liable. If dangerous or irrational behavior leads to an injury to another attendee, a fan can be held accountable. They can be held liable if intoxicated or unaware of the dangers they’re putting on others.
Fairs/Parades
State fairs and similar events can include stages, rides, and large gatherings that can put you at risk. A stage collapse can impose liability on an event organizer or production crew. An injury caused by a malfunctioning ride can result in a lawsuit against a ride operator or manufacturer. At parades, injuries from thrown objects, trampling, or vehicles can lead to legal action.
Trade Shows/Conventions
Overcrowded exhibition space can increase the risk of injuries. Falling objects, exposed wiring, loose carpeting, and other hazards can lead to falls and other incidents. Liability depends on who is responsible for addressing the hazard or must keep the venue reasonably safe.
Political Rallies
Crowds, poor security, and failure to maintain equipment can cause injuries at political rallies like anywhere else. Violence is also a factor that can cause you to be injured, or worse, at a political rally. By following our advice, you can increase the odds of a successful case and be fairly compensated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Most Common Types of Injuries at Large Public Events?
Whether at a music festival, ball game, or other large event, some of the most frequent injuries include:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Bruises
- Sprains
- Fractures
- Head injuries
- Crush injuries
- Suffocation
- Falling object injuries
Can I Sue Even If I Signed a Waiver?
A waiver can be challenged, depending on the circumstances. If your injury occurred due to reasons outside a reasonable assumption of risk, your attorney can determine if a party is liable or question the validity of a waiver.
Do I Need an Attorney to File a Lawsuit?
Filing a lawsuit on your own is possible. However, an experienced personal injury attorney understands the legal process and all the requirements. Their expertise can help you navigate the process, build a case, and negotiate with insurers to improve your chances of success.
Contact The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani
If you’ve been injured at a large public event, schedule a free consultation. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers have won millions of dollars in compensation for clients. They are familiar with every aspect of premises liability law, so they can hold negligent parties accountable and negotiate with insurance companies. We charge no fees until we win. To learn more, call (888) 952-2952 today!