Can I Sue If I Was Injured at a Sporting Event or a Concert?
February 13, 2025
Concerts and sports events are fun and exciting, but what happens if you get hurt while you’re there? It might be from an unruly fan causing trouble or even an issue with the venue itself, but, regardless, you may be wondering, Can I sue if I was injured at a sporting event or a concert? In Pennsylvania, premises liability laws dictate whether you can hold a stadium, arena, or concert venue responsible for your injuries.
If you’ve been hurt at a concert or sports event because of someone’s negligence, call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation.
Can You Hold the Venue Responsible?
Venues have a legal obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment for the people who attend events on the property. That responsibility falls under premises liability law, which means property owners have to take reasonable precautions against hazardous situations. If they don’t and you get hurt as a result, you might have a case.
As an example, suppose that a venue doesn’t clean up a spilled drink and someone slips and falls. That could be considered negligence. Likewise, if security doesn’t maintain control over a violent crowd and you get hurt in the chaos, the venue can be held responsible.
However, simply getting injured on the premises doesn’t automatically mean you can sue. Liability hinges on proving negligence, so you have to be able to show that:
- The venue had a duty of care to keep you safe.
- They breached that duty by failing to maintain a safe environment.
- That failure directly caused your injury.
- You suffered losses and harm as a result, like medical bills and lost time from work.
If all of these elements are present, you could have a valid personal injury claim. However, venues and their legal teams will often try to deny any responsibility, so you’ll need strong evidence and the help of a good attorney to hold them accountable.
Common Causes of Injuries at Events
Crowd-Related Dangers: When Excitement Turns Chaotic
Large crowds can be unpredictable. They sometimes develop a sort of “mob mentality,” and if a handful of people get out of control, others will sometimes act the same way at the expense of their own judgment. Perhaps the most visible example of mob mentality is when fans get out of control at soccer games and people get hurt because of inadequate security or poor venue design. All too often, this scenario can lead to trampling and crushing injuries.
Other crowd-related injuries can include:
- Fights or altercations because of a lack of response by security
- Overcrowding that violates safety regulations
- Stampedes triggered by panic or a lack of organized exits.
If the injury happens because the venue didn’t have proper security measures or emergency protocols in place, you could have grounds for a lawsuit.
Slips, Trips, and Falls: Common but Preventable
One of the most frequent types of injuries at large events involves slipping or tripping. Often, these happen because of things like spilled drinks, uneven or broken floors, insufficient lighting around stairs, or loose cables draped across walking paths.
The venue is supposed to keep their property clean and safe for people to walk around. When they don’t, they open themselves up to lawsuits when someone gets hurt. These types of cases can be tough to prove, though, so you’ll need to get pictures of the hazard and report the incident to event staff immediately.
A fun night out shouldn’t end with a trip to the emergency room. If negligence plays a role, you deserve justice and fair compensation.
What About “Assumption of Risk”?
Most venues include a disclaimer on tickets stating that attendees assume certain risks when they enter the property. It’s especially common for sporting events where flying pucks, baseballs, or player collisions can happen.
However, assumption of risk doesn’t cover everything. You might expect some level of risk when you go to a game or concert, but you don’t assume the risk of negligence. A venue can still be held accountable when it is careless and doesn’t take care of hazards in a timely manner.
For example, if a hockey puck flies into the stands and hits a fan, the venue isn’t necessarily liable if protective barriers are in place. But if a broken seat collapses and someone gets hurt, the venue could be held accountable for not fixing that broken seat.
The distinction is important because event organizers and venues might try to use “assumption of risk” as a defense to deflect liability. A skilled personal injury attorney can look at the details of your case to figure out whether that defense applies.
Who Else Could Be Liable?
The venue itself is generally the primary party held accountable for injuries involving negligence. However, other entities might also be liable, depending on the circumstances. These could potentially include:
- Event Organizers: A third-party company was hired to plan and manage the event but didn’t use proper safety measures.
- Security Companies: A contracted security team didn’t control a rowdy crowd or intervene in a dangerous situation.
- Vendors or Contractors: Food and drink spills weren’t properly cleaned up, or faulty equipment (like lighting or staging) caused someone to get hurt.
A thorough investigation will help determine whether any of these (or another party) could be at fault for your accident. Your lawyer will help you collect the evidence to figure out who was responsible and put together a strong case.
Know Your Rights and Take Action
It can be frustrating when you get hurt at an event that’s supposed to be fun, especially when your injury was preventable. There’s always some inherent risk to attending a large event, but the people putting the event together still have a legal duty to keep everyone safe. These cases can be complicated, so you’ll need strong legal counsel who understands the nuances of premises liability laws.
If you were injured at an event caused by the negligence of someone at the venue, Wapner Newman is ready to help. Call us at (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation.