Whether it’s a headline concert or a full blown festival, there’s nothing like a live concert to help you appreciate — and experience — your favorite bands. Unfortunately, concerts and festivals are also great places to get injured, whether it’s a mosh pit, an equipment malfunction, a grounds safety issue, or any of a long list of things that could go wrong. Of course if you’re attending a concert, it’s important to stay safe and protect yourself as much as possible from potential injuries. But if you do get hurt at a concert, here are a few tips you should keep in mind from a legal standpoint.
Concerts are often loud, crowded, and distracting, making it difficult to keep track of exactly what’s happening in the moment — let alone a few days after the event. In the event of an injury, it’s essential that you make note of exactly what or who injured you, including any information you can discern about the incident. If possible, write down the details immediately. Chances are you won’t have access to pen and paper at a concert, but you can use your phone and write down details like what, where, when, and who in a note app, a text to yourself, or simply by using a voice recorder. These details will be important later on.
If you’re seriously injured at a concert or festival and considering a personal injury lawsuit, you’ll need to be able to identify the defendants — the person or party you are suing. In most cases, a concert injury lawsuit will include the venue owner or company as a defendant. Some venues are privately owned, while others may be on government property. There are different rules for filing personal injury claims depending on whether the property is privately held or government owned, so you’ll need to be aware of which rules your lawsuit should follow.
In any personal injury lawsuit, the outcome will depend largely on your ability to prove who was at fault for the injury. Concert venues will often have plenty of sources for potential evidence, including hundreds or thousands of potential witnesses, privately captured photos or footage, and any surveillance cameras used by the venue. Gather all the potential evidence you can, and then discuss your case with a personal injury attorney. Once you’ve presented the evidence and any notes you’ve taken regarding your injury, an experienced attorney will be able to gather additional evidence through legal means that you may not have had access to previously.
In a personal injury case, the damages you may be awarded could be more than just your medical expenses. Personal injury lawsuits may also factor in damages from lost earnings, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and even loss of support or services to the people who depend on you. Your attorney can help you estimate the damages you may be entitled to receive through a concert injury lawsuit.
If your plans for a great day out at a music festival or concert have been derailed by an injury, there are steps you can take to help recover damages and regain your peace of mind — so you’ll be ready to rock by the next time your favorite band rolls into town.