What Should I Do if I’m Injured at a Concert?
Concerts and festivals offer a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with your favourite artists and bands. There’s tremendous anticipation from the day you buy your tickets to the moment the lights dim in the arena. While concerts can provide memories that last a lifetime, those memories are not always good ones.
Concerts and festivals feature loud noises, flashing lights, low visibility, and (usually) plenty of alcohol. Though these can be the ingredients for a really fun evening, they also increase the risk of injury.
There have been some tragic accidents at concerts and festivals which have resulted in serious injuries and in some cases, even death. A fire that broke out at the Republica Cromanon rock club in Buenos Aires in 2004 claimed the lives of 194 people. In August of 2011, during a concert at the Indiana State Fair, poor weather and faulty construction led to a stage collapse that killed 7 people.
There are often many contributing factors when an injury occurs at a concert or festival. A lack of barricades, limited security, and faulty equipment can all increase the risk to concertgoers. Outdoor festivals, in addition to the issues already mentioned, can bring about environmental risks such as heat stroke.
When you’re planning to attend a concert or a festival, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Make sure you’re well hydrated and briefly familiarize yourself with the location of the nearest emergency exit. You’ll be glad you did if you need to use it. If you’re attending with friends or family, make sure you’re able to contact one another in the event you get separated. While there’s always the temptation to overindulge at a musical event, remember that it’s safer to keep your wits about you, so you might want to consider limiting the amount of alcohol you consume.
Should you or someone you know suffer an injury at a concert, the owner of the venue and the company that manages it are just some of the parties who may be responsible for your injuries. If the injury arises due to someone having been served too many drinks, responsibility may also lie with the vendor who sold the beverages.
If an injury should occur, your first priority should be seeking appropriate medical attention. Once the immediate danger has passed, you or your friends/family should notify a member of the staff at the venue as quickly as possible about the incident. You may be asked to give a statement as to what happened, and you should provide your best recollection of the circumstances leading up to the accident. If you attended the event with friends, it may be helpful to have them write down what they saw, as these statements may prove invaluable in a potential lawsuit. If the injury occurred due to a physical hazard at the venue (such as wet floors or faulty equipment), you should try to get some photos of the area where the injury occurred.
While your health and well-being are always the first concern, you should reach out to a lawyer as soon as you can if an injury occurs at a concert or festival. People who saw what happened will become more difficult to find and their memories will fade over time. The quicker you act, the more likely it is that your lawyer will be able to obtain critical and contemporaneous evidence that will be crucial in advancing your case.
About the Authors
Nick understands that those who have suffered through the trauma of a serious personal injury are already in a position of vulnerability, and is committed to helping them through this difficult process, offering the support and advice they need. Specifically, he seeks to help right the balance in an insurance system that is becoming increasingly antagonistic toward injured individuals.