Who Can Be Held Liable For Injuries At A Concert?
Rapper Travis Scott is infamous for creating rowdy and sometimes dangerous environments at his concerts – including mosh pits, crowd surfing, and stage diving. In a performance at Terminal 5 in Manhattan earlier this year, one 23-year-old concert-goer was paralyzed after allegedly being pushed off a balcony.
On Friday, October 27, that 23-year-old man filed a lawsuit at the State Supreme Court in Manhattan, which named Mr. Scott and his manager; the concert promoter the Bowery Presents, which runs Terminal 5 and put on the concert; and the security company Strike Force Protective Services for “negligence, carelessness, and recklessness.”
When Are Musicians Liable For Injuries At Their Concerts?
In a video of the incident, Scott can be heard encouraging fans to jump from the second-floor balcony into the crowd below. “Don’t be scared,” he says, “they’re going to catch you.” According to the paralyzed man’s lawyer, he didn’t jump, but was pushed from the third floor when the crowd moved toward the ledge. Scott then yelled at his security guards to bring the man on stage, instead of getting him immediate medical treatment.
The man suffered fractured vertebrae, a broken left wrist, and a fractured right ankle in the accident. The group of security guards brought him to the stage, and the lawsuit alleges that this exacerbated his injuries. The lawsuit claims that the man should have been fitted with a neck brace and backboard, instead of being carried to the stage.
While the litigation is pending, this incident raises questions about the responsibility entertainers have to make sure their fans are safe at their events. According to the suit, Mr. Scott has “incited mayhem and chaos at prior events,” including a May arrest for inciting a riot at a concert in Arkansas.
Can Music Venues Be Held Liable For Concert Injuries?
Like all other businesses, live music venues have a legal obligation to make sure the venue is free of hazards which could result in serious injuries for their guests. This concept is known as premises liability. Part of this obligation means making sure staff are properly trained in how to respond to emergency situations, such as a concert-goer falling from a balcony.
Terminal 5 and the production company who organized this concert were named in the lawsuit because their security staff allegedly failed to properly respond to this emergency. Instead of calling 911 and having the man removed by emergency response teams, they picked him up with no support and carried him to the stage. Although Scott may have ordered them to pick the man up, these individuals made the choice to listen.
Can I File A Lawsuit After Being Injured At A Concert Or Sporting Event?
If you’ve been injured while attending a concert, sporting event, or another large gathering at one of NYC’s many venues and arenas, it’s important to be aware of your legal rights. These properties deserve to be held liable when their negligence results in a guest injury. To find out more about your legal options, get in touch with one of our New York City personal injury lawyers today.
