Negligent Security for Outdoor Events: Who Is Responsible for an Injury?
When you go to an outdoor event, you expect it to be not only enjoyable, but safe as well. The last thing you would think was that you’d suffer from an injury at one of these events. However, if that happened to you, then it’s time to research more on it and seek out a lawyer for help. When you’ve experienced negligent security at an outdoor event, you want to know: Who is responsible for your injury, your expenses, your bills, your losses?
Riverside, California personal injury lawyers Heiting & Irwin have over four decades of experience assisting clients with personal injury. We have retrieved more than $500 million for our clients, and we’ll work hard to get you the settlement you deserve.
Who Is Responsible for a Personal Injury at an Outdoor Event?
When you go to an outdoor event, you’re an invited guest of the vendor and/or the business owner. They are responsible for providing adequate security and exercising reasonable care to ensure that you and other guests do not suffer from injury. This may include taking the proper precautions like:
- Hiring security guards
- Checking everyone’s bags and belongings (for weapons, alcohol, drugs, etc.)
- Installing security cameras
- Using metal detectors
- Providing good lighting
- Putting up fencing or other barriers
- Installing fire alarms and sprinklers
- Providing clearly marked exit routes
- Fixing broken seats, handrails, and other items that you will contact
- Offering handicap access
- Exercising crowd control if necessary
- Calling the police if a situation gets out of control
- Providing an EMT or other medical personnel on site
- Having first aid on site
All of these actions can prevent crimes as well as personal injuries from occurring. When the vendors/owners do not take the right measures, a personal injury victim is entitled to take appropriate legal action against the vendor or business owner to recover their losses and compensation for their injuries.
Proving Responsibility for Injuries
When you take legal action against a vendor or business owner, you will need to show that they were negligent. This means that they had a duty of reasonable care for you, the attendee. For example, when you stepped foot onto the property, you expected there to be security because this was a large outdoor event that provided alcohol. You know that when people gather and there is alcohol involved, problems can occur. However, the property owner did not provide security, and you ended up getting assaulted by an intoxicated person.
You’ll need to show not only that the vendor or property owner breached their duty of care, but that the breach led to you becoming injured, and there are now damages because of your injury. Damages could include:
- Medical bills (past and present)
- A loss of wages or earning capacity (past and future)
- Damage to your belongings
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering and general damages
If the vendor or property owner did provide adequate security and other measures, there still may be avenues to recovery. Things happen, and the vendor or property owner cannot be held responsible for all of them, but others might.
Additionally, if you did anything to put yourself in danger or provoke someone, then your case may not hold up. These things all need to be explored.
Common Injuries from Outdoor Events
If you’ve been to a large outdoor event before, you know it can get pretty out of control, especially if people are using alcohol and/or drugs. Sometimes, in the worst-case scenarios, these events can lead to deaths, like what happened with the Astroworld Festival. That event resulted in 10 deaths, and many, many, injuries, and now more than 1,250 plaintiffs are suing the organizers.
Whether a rowdy crowd, a drunk or high person, or something else causes your injury, there are many injuries that you could experience. They include:
- Crush injuries
- Broken bones
- Strains, sprains
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spine and neck injuries
- Dehydration
- Head injuries
When you become injured, it’s crucial that you take certain steps so you have the best chance possible for retrieving compensation. The best step is to get an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
What to Do If You Get Injured at an Event
If you become injured at an outdoor event – and your injuries aren’t serious enough that you have to go to the hospital right away – then stay on the scene and collect evidence. This evidence is critical to the success of your case.
Take photographs and videos of the scene, including your visible injuries and damage to your belongings. Get the responsible party’s contact information as well. Get the responsible party’s insurance information and snap a photo of their uniform/badges/ID etc. If there were witnesses around, get their statements and contact information should you need to get in touch later on. Write down the locations of cameras on site as well so that you can potentially collect footage of the incident. Take pictures of the cameras and any signs, entrances and exits and other things that are relevant to what happened to you.
Report the incident to the vendor or property owner and get a copy of the report in writing. If a crime was involved – for example, you were assaulted or someone stole from you – make sure you call the police as well to file a report.
Go to the hospital for evaluation and medical treatment, including X-rays. Even if your injuries feel minor, tell your doctor about any pain you’re experiencing. Whatever treatment plan they give you, follow it closely. Treat your injuries seriously.
Contact and experienced personal injury lawyer/firm.
Don’t Accept the Initial Offer
At any point, if the responsible party, including the vendor or property owner or their insurance company offers you a settlement, do not accept it. When you talk to the insurance company, do not let them take a recorded statement, and don’t discuss your injuries. This can take place later; and they may simply be trying to get out of paying you a proper settlement.
You never know how your injuries will progress. Minor back pain could turn into a life-long problem for which you have to pursue extensive medical care. If you take the first settlement offer, if any, you’re likely shorting yourself.
Instead, reach out to a personal injury lawyer with a good reputation and high ratings to help you with your case. They will help you collect evidence of your injury and pursue compensation for you. Then, you can focus on healing instead of worrying about negotiating during this stressful time. Plus, your lawyer won’t charge you anything unless they win your case. You aren’t taking any risks hiring them.
Contact Personal Injury Lawyers Heiting & Irwin
If you suffered from a personal injury at an outdoor event and want to seek out compensation, then it’s time to find a personal injury lawyer to represent you. Heiting & Irwin are here for you. We have dealt with many personal injury cases and will work hard to get you the settlement that you deserve. Contact us online or call us at 951-682-6400 to start your case now. We look forward to helping you.
