In case you hadn’t heard the news, on November 5, nine people died, and several more were injured during a massive crowd push during the Astroworld music festival at NRG Park in Houston, Texas. Global rap superstar Travis Scott holds the annual concert, and this year’s event featured 50,000 fans at the show.
Making this news even more tragic is the fact that those who died ranged in age from only 14 years old to 27 years old. A nine-year-old boy was among those hospitalized. And the saddest part is, tragedies like this should never happen if those who run the concert and those who run the venue take all the necessary precautions.
What Happened?
As the headliner, Travis Scott, took the stage for his performance, the crowd of approximately 50,000 suddenly rushed toward the stage from the back. This concert featured festival “seating,” which isn’t seating at all. It’s essentially general admission, and concertgoers simply find a place to stand and watch, as there are no physical seats.
At this show (and most others), one or more steel barricades block the stage so fans can’t access that area. The problem is, once people start pushing toward the front, the people standing up front have nowhere to go. Think of the weight and force of 50,000 people pushing aggressively and quickly against you. The result, sadly, is what we heard about in Houston–people being trampled or crushed to death due to the rush of people.
What Should Victims and Their Families Do?
Unfortunately, for the families of victims who lost their lives, they’re mourning their loved ones and maybe pushing for change, so these types of tragedies do not occur again. For the injured, they’re recovering either at home or in a hospital from their experience at Astroworld. One thing families of the deceased and victims who were injured can–and should–do is ensure those who were negligent in this tragedy are held accountable. And that involves hiring a personal injury lawyer to make sure the responsible parties never allow this to happen again.
Of course, a lawsuit will not bring a lost loved one back. But it does keep irresponsible parties from getting away with their gross negligence, and it does provide an incentive for these venues and promoters to ensure that proper safety measures are taken from now on, which can potentially save many, many lives.
Several of the victims’ families are already moving forward with this process. At least eighty civil lawsuits have been filed in Harris County District Court in connection to the tragedy, as of November 11. People want to know why city officials, concert organizers, and performers allowed the concert to continue as people were dying. Additionally, it’s been learned that the district fire chief whose station was closest to NRG Park stopped by the Astroworld venue the morning of the concert but was denied access twice by security.
Speaking from Experience
I personally had a case in which a college student’s leg was fractured by a stampeding crowd at a “festival seating” rap concert for students on a local college campus. The injury occurred because no standard crowd control standards were implemented.
The case settled for a substantial amount after a suit was filed, as concert producers and entertainers must ensure a safe environment for audiences. Reputable concert producers do provide “event” insurance to cover any injuries due to negligence, but injured people will need a lawyer to access it as a practical matter. Such insurance does not work like liability carriers for automobiles where settlements are common.
Many audience injury claims that arise from concerts and other public gatherings arranged by non-governmental organizations and individuals will, as a practical matter, not pay out claims without a suit being filed in an appropriate court. And that is why any victims at concerts or events like these need a personal injury lawyer.
Travis Scott Concert: A Local Lawyer’s Thoughts on Crowd Injuries
Concerts can be dangerous events, especially when they involve this type of festival seating. When you add extra layers of peril, they can be deadly. For example, at the event my client attended, real paper money was thrown into the crowd; I believe they used a machine to do so. That is why the back-seated crowd launched forward because the money only blew so far from the stage. My client was not the only person injured. In that case, there was negligence all around.
If you or a loved one are ever involved in a tragedy in this area – that is similar to Travis Scott’s concert (and we truly hope you never are) – it’s essential to get medical attention and a diagnosis of any injuries sustained and then contact the personal injury attorneys at The Lapidus Law Firm.
While we can’t guarantee a settlement, we can promise to work relentlessly on your behalf to get you the justice you deserve. Call us at (202) 785-5111 or (301) 852-7500 to set up your free, no-obligation consultation. Here at The Lapidus Law Firm, your team of dedicated attorneys is committed to making justice work for you.
Written by Larry Lapidus