Stadium and Arena Safety

Sports fans and concert goers are probably not worrying about getting into an accident when they are attending an event. However, there are dangers, especially if the venue does not comply with current safety standards. If it was constructed without adherence to proper safety procedures, or if these are not maintained, attendees could face the possibility of a life-threatening injury. The following factors contribute to the dangers of being injured in stadiums and arenas.

Construction Negligence

If builders cut corners during construction to save money or the venue was built not according to specifications and building codes, it can lead to serious accidents. There is also the possibility that the owners were negligent by not keeping up with repairs, cleaning, and other maintenance matters. The owners have a responsibility to keep concert goers safe. This is done by making sure that there are adequate precautions to protect all attendees.

Unforeseen Occurrences

Unforeseen occurrences can result in accidents. If a worker spilled oil on the floor while transporting food and it was not cleaned up properly, someone walking past could slip and fall. This unexpected incident could cause the person to suffer broken bones or worse. Other incidences that might not fall under the assumption of risk category include food poisoning, poor lighting, electrocution, inadequate security, fires, and parking lot injuries.

Although the venue owners are responsible to keep patrons safe, accidents occur every year at stadiums, arenas, and sporting events. They range from minor injuries, like a broken finger, to catastrophic injuries, and even fatality. The tickets that are sold may have advisories printed on them. These may state that the facility or owners are not liable for injuries occurred at that event. This implies an assumption of risk for the ticket holder, which could prevent that person from making a personal injury claim. However, there are certain cases that qualify as exceptions.

Slip and Falls

Slip and fall accidents happen frequently at venues, and there are certain parameters involving premises liability that will affect how claims are handled.  Owner negligence must be proven and shown that the owner was aware of the problem but did not correct it. An isolated occurrence such as one fan knocking another one down and causing an injury might not be considered negligence.

An ongoing situation such as a loose railing that has not been repaired for months might present a different case. This is because it is a hazard and it is reasonable to expect that it would have been fixed. The stadium owner should have been aware of the problem and addressed it. The owner has an obligation to minimize the risk of injury to all attendees.

Philadelphia Premises Liability Lawyers at Nerenberg Law Associates Specialize in Proving Owner Negligence

Although tickets may include waivers that state that the fans assume responsibility for injuries that happen on the premises, there are examples where injured fans can make a case. Philadelphia premises liability lawyers at Nerenberg Law Associates are experts in premises liability law. Call us today at 215-569-9100 or contact us online for a free consultation. We are centrally located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and we proudly serve clients from the surrounding areas.