After a big lull occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, live festivals and fairs are back in season, and as the summer continues, the event schedule will be packed. With concertgoers having missed out for almost two years, excitement for upcoming festivals is immense, and organizers will undoubtedly look to impress.
If you plan to attend an upcoming festival or fair, you will naturally be looking to enjoy yourself, make memories, and possibly meet new people. Indeed, you will most likely come out of the event with a smile, with no regrets in your mind.
Nonetheless, as safe as modern festivals and fairs are advertised to be, there has been a worrying increase in the number of dangerous accidents happening during these events. For instance, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USPC) estimated the number of injuries caused by attractions and equipment in events to be about 31,000. Worryingly enough, that was in 2016, so the numbers are probably much higher now.
Legally speaking, injuries that occur at festivals and fairs fall under the scope of both personal injury and premises liability laws. However, the specific type of claim you file in this case depends on the facts of the accident, particularly the causes and subsequent reactions by the organizers.
If the organizers could have done anything to stop the accident, they would be liable to compensate you for your injuries. However, if the cause of the accident was outside their scope, filing a personal injury claim against the specific person responsible will be the best course of action.
As a layman, you will probably be confused as to what type of claim to file, who to sue, and what you should do to ensure a fair outcome. As such, you need a personal injury lawyer to help you in this regard.
Potential Hazards in Fairs and Festivals
As much as organizers try to safeguard event security, inherent human imperfection means that errors and accidents are almost unavoidable. The following are some of the possible causes of injuries you will find at festivals and fairs:
- Poor lighting, or none at all, in some areas at night
- Improper set-up or non-functional security devices, such as surveillance cameras and metal detectors
- Lack of clear signage marking hazard areas and emergency exits
- Gross negligence by certain staff members, particularly bouncers and event security
- Equipment malfunctions or failure due to poor maintenance or aging
- Exposed, damaged, or vandalized electrical wires passing through high-traffic areas
- Poorly trained and equipped personnel
