What to Do if You’re Injured at a Summer Festival in Central Illinois

Summertime festivals are popular events for many Central Illinois residents, but they can also be dangerous. Rowdy attendees, unsafe rides or attractions, and hazards on the premises can all cause severe injuries. If you sustained injuries at a summer festival in Central Illinois, contact a Springfield personal injury lawyer, then follow these steps:

• Seek Medical Attention Immediately – Even if your injuries seem minor, seeing a medical professional is crucial. You must prioritize your health, and seeing a doctor creates a record of your injuries for a future legal claim.
• Document the Scene – If your injuries allow, take photos of where the accident occurred, including any hazards, poor conditions, or objects that may have contributed. Visual evidence from the scene can help prove who caused your injuries and show how the environment led to your injuries.
• Gather Witness Information – Ask any witnesses to provide their contact details. Their testimony can support your case by providing a clearer picture of what happened.
• Report the Incident to Festival Organizers – Official documentation of the incident is crucial for recovering compensation, as you need proof that the incident actually happened. Notify the event organizers about the accident and request that they file a written report.
• Avoid Admitting Fault – Keeping quiet protects your legal rights and prevents anyone from using your statements against you later.

Common Causes of Festival Injuries

While organizers tout festivals as fun, safe destinations for families, they’re often filled with potential hazards, including:

• Slips, trips, and falls due to poorly maintained grounds, uneven surfaces, and wet areas
• Illnesses from contaminated food
• People being pushed, shoved, or trampled in overcrowded areas
• Broken bones, electric shocks, and other injuries from defective rides or equipment
• Health and safety risks due to extreme heat and sudden storm activity
• Assault and other incidents resulting from intoxicated patrons

Who’s Liable for Injuries at a Festival?

A personal injury attorney can investigate the festival and identify who might be liable for your injuries. The potentially liable parties include:

• Event Organizers – Whoever organized the festival could be liable if they didn’t properly manage the event, ensure your safety, or maintain the venue. For instance, they may have failed to address hazards on the grounds, provide adequate crowd control, or follow safety regulations.
• Vendors – Vendors can be liable if they served contaminated food or drinks, failed to store or handle items properly, or used defective equipment. For example, poorly maintained food stands or unsafe cooking practices commonly cause injuries and illnesses.
• Ride Operators – If a carnival ride malfunctions due to poor maintenance or operator error, the ride operators and the company they work for can be responsible for any resulting injuries. Inadequate training or failure to inspect rides could also contribute to liability.
• Property Owners – The venue or property owner is responsible for maintaining safe conditions throughout the festival. They may be liable for injuries resulting from dangerous conditions like uneven pavement, poor lighting, or obstructed walkways.
• Security Personnel – If security staff fail to manage dangerous behavior, like fights or unruly crowds, they could be liable for any injuries resulting from their negligence.
• Other Attendees – You can sue another festivalgoer directly if they injured or assaulted you.

Compensation for Festival Injuries

With proper legal support, your compensation for festival-related injuries could include money for:

• Current and future medical bills
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Damaged personal property

Remember that you must file a lawsuit within two years of the incident to preserve your right to compensation, so don’t wait to contact a lawyer.

Contact Our Springfield, IL, Personal Injury Attorneys

Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC, has recovered millions for our clients, and we can fight to hold whoever caused your injuries at a festival accountable. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation, and pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.