More Than 40 Injured In Fall At New Jersey Rap Concert After Railing Collapses

More than 40 people were injured earlier this month when a security railing collapsed at a concert in New Jersey, sending audience members spilling into a concrete pathway between the stage and the lawn seating area.

When Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa took the stage at BB&T Pavilion in Camden, the crowd surged forward, pressing against a barrier, causing it to collapse. An estimated 50 people fell about 10 feet to a concrete walkway between the lawn and the stage. Of the 42 people injured, 34 were taken to area hospitals. Eight were treated by medics on-site and released. One concertgoer was critically injured. Most of the injuries were broken bones, and bumps and bruises.

It was reported that the performers were gesturing to people on the lawn to come closer to the stage. That’s when people rushed toward the railing and it collapsed.

The incident is being investigated by county law enforcement.

Nearly 60 million concert tickets were sold last year for shows in North America and sales totaled nearly $7 billion.

Given the millions of people attending concerts each year, injuries are relatively common. Injuries can result from trampling; fires and explosions; falling or malfunctioning equipment; falling down, or even violence such as the terrorist shootings at a Paris concert last year. When filing a lawsuit, a plaintiff must be able to prove the extent of his or her injuries and any associated pain and suffering – both physical and emotional. Sometimes the seriousness of injuries suffered is obvious. Other times, not so much.

There is also the question of who is liable for the injuries. Defendants responsible for negligence can include the venue owners, facility managers and security staff; performers, their crew and their management; the concert promoter; local law enforcement and government; and even other concert-goers.

In order to win a personal injury lawsuit, the party making the charge of wrongdoing — the plaintiff — must meet a burden of proof. In a criminal case, the burden of proof is “reasonable doubt,” meaning an average person should not have any serious doubt about the truth of the charges. However, in a civil case, the burden of proof is the lesser “preponderance of evidence,”meaning that a normal person weighing all of the relevant evidence would consider the charges more likely true than not.

Given all the variables in filing suit for injuries suffered at a concert, it is imperative to consult an attorney experienced in personal injury cases.

Every person injured by a wrongful act, defective device or negligence deserves compensation. If you suspect a loved one was harmed or died as a result of such an act, call the offices of trial attorneys Charles Gilman and Briggs Bedigian at 1-800-529-6162 or contact them online. The firm handles cases in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.