Public events, from festivals and fairs to concerts and sports games, should be enjoyable for attendees. However, accidents can happen, and people may get hurt.
Injuries at these events can range from minor cuts to serious harm. In Georgia, several parties could be liable and owe compensation, depending on the circumstances of the injury.
Event organizers and property owners
Event organizers have a duty to ensure the safety of everyone attending. They are responsible for providing adequate security, proper signage, and safe conditions. If an injury occurs because of poor planning or lack of safety measures, the organizers could be liable for damages. For example, if overcrowding leads to a crowd crush or stampede, the event organizers may be at fault.
Property owners also have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors. Georgia’s premises liability laws hold property owners accountable for injuries that happen due to unsafe conditions. If a person slips and falls due to a wet floor or trips over uneven ground, the owner of the venue may be liable.
Vendors and security staff
Vendors at public events can also be responsible if their actions lead to someone’s injury. For instance, if a food vendor spills hot liquids and someone gets burned, the vendor could be responsible for the injury. Similarly, if a vendor sets up equipment improperly, causing it to fall and hurt someone, they may be at fault.
Security staff are present at many public events to protect attendees. If they fail to control crowds or respond appropriately to a dangerous situation, they could be liable for injuries because of negligence. For example, if a fight breaks out and security doesn’t act in time to prevent further harm, they might be partly accountable.
Claimants should be aware that the preceding parties could be separate organizations or people. Therefore, anyone who wants to recover full compensation for an injury at a public event may need to do an extensive investigation to figure out all who are accountable and then bring more than one claim.
