Concerts, festivals, sporting events, community celebrations, and seasonal markets bring people together. Though these events are meant to be enjoyable, they do not come without some degree of risk. Large crowds, temporary structures, alcohol service, outdoor venues, and complex logistics can all contribute to hazardous situations, turning even a well-planned gathering into a site of dangerous premises.
When an accident occurs at a public event, determining who is responsible is not always simple. Multiple parties may share control over the space, manage different aspects of the event, or be responsible for maintenance and safety. Public event injuries involve unique considerations, from the nature of the venue to the roles of organizers, contractors, and municipalities. Establishing fault requires examining who had control over the premises, who created or failed to address hazards, and which parties owed a legal duty to keep attendees safe.
Who Is Responsible for Keeping Event Spaces Safe?
The Occupiers’ Liability Act sets the responsibilities of property owners and managers. Anyone in charge of a piece of property, the activities taking place there, or who provides access to the property is considered an occupier. These individuals must take reasonable steps to ensure the space is safe for visitors, though this does not require a perfect or hazard-free environment.
This standard applies to a wide range of settings, including indoor venues, outdoor festivals, municipal parks, stadiums, fairgrounds, parking lots, and temporary event structures. The more complex the event, the more parties may qualify as occupiers, with each potentially sharing responsibility. Leases, event agreements, and shared control arrangements can make it challenging to determine who is liable, but all occupiers involved may face some level of legal accountability.
Event Organizers and Promoters
Event organizers and promoters are responsible for planning and managing public events safely. Their duties extend beyond simply booking a venue or selling tickets, as they should also anticipate potential hazards and take reasonable steps to prevent accidents. This includes managing crowd control, providing adequate staffing, preparing emergency response procedures, ensuring vendors comply with safety regulations, and hiring qualified security personnel.
Organizers may be held liable if they fail to identify or mitigate known risks, allow attendance to exceed safe capacity, neglect to supervise high-risk activities, or ignore weather-related safety concerns, such as icy walkways or heat-related hazards. Unsafe layout decisions, like blocked exits or narrow pathways, can also contribute to liability if they create foreseeable dangers for attendees.
Property Owners and Venue Operators
Property owners and venue operators carry a separate duty to maintain a safe environment. They are responsible for addressing hazards that exist on their property, whether it is an indoor facility, a municipal park, or a temporary event site. Common issues include uneven surfaces, wet or slippery floors, missing railings, inadequate lighting, and unstable seating or temporary structures.
Even when an event organizer rents a venue, property owners may still share liability if they fail to address dangerous premises or known hazards. For example, if a festival occurs on city-owned property with broken stairs or poorly maintained walkways, the property owner could be held partially responsible for resulting injuries.
Municipalities
When public events are held on city-owned property, such as parks, plazas, closed streets, or civic buildings, municipalities may also bear liability. They are responsible for maintaining safe infrastructure, repairing known hazards, and implementing effective crowd-safety measures when overseeing or sponsoring an event.
While municipalities typically require event organizers to carry liability insurance as a condition of permitting the event, this does not completely remove the municipality’s own responsibility for negligence. If an injury occurs because of poorly maintained infrastructure, inadequate lighting, or unsafe public areas, the city could still face legal liability.
Where a municipality may be liable for an accident, it is necessary to notify that municipality in writing within 60 days of the accident.
Third-Party Contractors
Many public events rely on third-party contractors to provide critical services, and these parties can also be held liable for injuries caused by their negligence. Contractors may include security companies, equipment installers, food vendors, amusement ride operators, and alcohol vendors.
Negligent security practices, such as excessive force, failure to respond promptly to an incident, or insufficient training, can create direct risks to attendees. Similarly, contractors responsible for setting up stages, tents, booths, or fencing may be liable if their work is unsafe or improperly installed. Food vendors may face liability if unsafe preparation or serving practices, such as greasy floors or poorly maintained cooking equipment, contribute to an injury.
Licensed alcohol vendors are treated as commercial hosts, meaning they owe a heightened duty of care to protect patrons and others from alcohol-related harm. They may be liable if they continue serving intoxicated attendees, fail to intervene when impaired individuals behave dangerously, or neglect safe service practices.
How Stephens & Holman Can Help
Determining liability for public event injuries can be complex, especially when multiple parties share responsibility. Stephens & Holman has extensive experience handling personal injury claims arising from public events.
Our team can help injured attendees identify all potentially liable parties, gather and preserve evidence, negotiate with insurers, and advocate for fair compensation. If you or a loved one were injured at a public event, Stephens & Holman can guide you through the legal process and ensure your rights are fully protected.