Crowded Places: Understanding Injuries at Events and Concerts

There’s nothing better than seeing your favorite artist or team put on an amazing live performance. Some concerts and sporting events create wonderful memories that can last a lifetime and give you great stories to tell. But these large-venue events can have downsides. While you may expect to get bumped a little or have a drink spilled on you, you don’t expect to go home with broken limbs, heatstroke, or worse.

The massive crowds can lead to all sorts of injuries, even death in certain cases. Concertgoers routinely hurt each other, either on purpose or accidentally. Venues and promoters may also create conditions where injuries are more likely to occur.

A personal injury attorney can discuss possible ways for you to receive relief for your medical costs if you or a loved one have been injured at an entertainment venue. You also don’t necessarily need to name a specific person to find liable — no one expects you to get a positive ID if you suffer a concussion from a flying bottle or broken ribs from being crushed in a crowd. 

Types of Injuries

Common injuries at concerts and sporting events can include:

• Damage to arms and legs
• Concussion/brain injury from falling or being hit by projectiles
• Hearing damage
• Dental damage
• Damage from falling
• Weather-related injuries such as heatstroke/dehydration
• Substance-related injuries such as overdoses or impairment

A National Institute of Health study of about 450 concertgoers in Switzerland between 2019 and 2021 indicated that contusions were the top type of reported injury, followed by damage to legs and teeth/mouth.

In addition to the possibility of facing physical injury, visitors to these kind of events have a higher likelihood of being mugged, pickpocketed or sexually assaulted. 

Concertgoers also face the risk of being injured simply by being a bystander. For instance, at a concert in Washington, an individual opened fire on the crowd after eating hallucinogenic mushrooms. Two people were killed and many others were injured.

Other Factors

Beyond basic injuries, there are other factors which could contribute to someone being injured at a concert or sporting event.

• Alcohol
  The referenced NIH study showed that heavy alcohol consumption increased the risk of injury to the individual or those nearby.  Alcohol also lowers judgment, so an intoxicated person may engage in riskier behavior than normal.
• Type of event
  It also showed that louder concerts, such as punk rock or metal, can lead to a higher number of injuries vs. pop or more mellow music. Some performers may even further rile up the crowd and encourage people to get rowdy.
• Temperature
  An outdoor concert may be more likely to contribute to heat-related injuries. While some venues offer misters or covered areas, others may leave this type of protection to the individual. Heat can also cause the effects of alcohol to be stronger, or lead people to drink more. Rainy weather could cause surfaces to be slippery, increasing fall risk. Cold weather can cause frostbite or the potential for a fall.
• Crowd control
  A well-organized venue will have planned paths to make it easy for people to enter and exit. But it’s also easy for things to break down, especially if there’s a reason to panic. A poorly managed crowd can lead to people being trampled or injured.
• Presence of security
  A large group of security personnel, which can include private companies as well as law enforcement, can help deter violence, or at least respond quickly. Likewise, relaxed security may make it easy for people to bring in contraband and weapons, break conduct rules, or injure others before help can arrive.
• The unexpected
  Random events could happen that are beyond the control of the venue staff or promoter, such as an act of terrorism.

Critics may say that concertgoers know what they’re getting into, as far as the possibility of injury or violence, especially at shows known for mosh pits or sporting events that attract hardcore fans. Some events have what is known as an exculpatory clause in the fine print on the back of the ticket to try to limit liability or prevent litigation, but not all states permit them. California has strict standards for such a clause to be effective, so the venue and promoters could still have some responsibility if someone is injured or killed.

Help Is Available

If you’ve sustained injuries at an event, you may be entitled to compensation. This can take the form of funds to pay for current or future treatment or other medical needs, especially if there’s a long-term or permanent injury.

At Dunnion Law, we can provide free consultations to learn about your situation and discuss possible ways to seek relief. For instance, at the Washington concert, the shooter faced criminal charges for murder, and the family of the victims also filed a wrongful death suit against him and the venue. The shooter was clearly to blame but the family claimed the venue and security staff could have taken stronger steps to identify the risk. An experienced personal injury attorney can also navigate the complex maze of who may be liable and to what amount, especially if there are multiple organizations that are involved like security companies, promoters, vendors or contract employees