Injured at a Public Event: Filing a Premises Liability Claim for Compensation

Millions of Americans attend public events on a daily basis for entertainment, awareness, and community support. However, some large public events, such as concerts and parades, may be poorly planned, understaffed, devoid of basic safety precautions, and notably chaotic and therefore, a breeding ground for injury. In this case, injured parties can pursue a premises liability claim.

Types of Public Events Where Attendees May Sustain Injury

Without proper precautions, any type of event held for large crowds can lead to serious injuries. Before an event, the event organizer, property manager, and venue business owner are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to secure the safety of attendees.

The organizers of any event must plan for the safety of their visitors and that includes:

• concerts;
• trade shows;
• fairs;
• live demonstrations;
• street fairs;
• local parades;
• multi-day festivals;
• talent shows;
• exhibitions;
• business or religious conferences;
• carnivals; and
• sporting events.

Common Types of Injuries at Large Public Events

People sustain injury in myriad ways at public events. Concert attendees sustain injuries at a rate of 2.1 per ten thousand attendees, according to a 1999 report published in Academic Emergency Medicine by researchers at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.

Dr. Jeff Grange, professor of emergency medicine at Loma Linda, has studied the medical care at public events like concerts and NASCAR races. He notes, according to the Chicago Tribune, “We saw a lot of trauma: two people with stab wounds, numerous people with dislocated shoulders, facial trauma, sutured up a lot of faces, that kind of stuff, especially from mosh pits.”

Unfortunately, many things can go wrong at a public gathering:

• a fan can be struck in the head with flying debris at a sporting event;
• a pedestrian can be hit by a car at a parade;
• the veranda collapses at a public celebration;
• someone can trip and fall because of poorly maintained sidewalks or broken bleachers; or
• a concert attendee can slip and fall on beer-drenched ground and get trampled in the crowd.

Filing a Premises Liability Claim for Compensation

It’s important for victims to know that they can obtain compensation for injuries by filing a premises liability claim. If a valid liability claim does exist, you might be able to collect damages for:

• medical bills;
• lost time at work; and
• future treatments and rehabilitation; and
• pain and suffering.

Claimants must establish the property owner, manager or other party’s negligence. A claim must also demonstrate that an accident at the event caused injuries, which led to damages. To determine what types of compensation you may be eligible for and how to best go about filing a claim, consult a local premises liability attorney.

Discussing Your Options with an Attorney

If you or your loved one was recently injured at a public event, talk to an attorney to look into all possible forms of remuneration. For legal counsel in the Arvada area, call D.J. Banovitz. He can discuss the details of your case and provide you with information regarding what forms of legal action you have available. Contact us today at 303-300-5060 to schedule your consultation and start your claim or lawsuit.