Injured in a Stampede at a Festival in South Carolina: Can I Sue?

On May 25th, People and many other sources reported that almost 20 people had suffered various injuries after a stampede at a South Carolina festival. Many of the victims had been trampled in a mad rush to the exit, possibly prompted by fears of an active shooter. If you were trampled at a festival, concert, protest, or other public event, you may want to speak with an experienced negligent security lawyer in South Carolina for further guidance.

Bike Festival in South Carolina Leads to Stampede and “Mass Casualty Event”

The stampede occurred at a biker festival on Atlantic Beach, and it began at around 1:00 AM. Local law enforcement states that one person started running away, triggering a “chain reaction” in the crowd and causing many others to run in the same direction. As people rushed for the exits, several victims fell underneath the stampede and were trampled by other festival goers.

First responders transported many of these individuals to local hospitals. Although no one suffered life-threatening injuries, trample injuries can be quite severe and potentially life-altering. Local law enforcement believes that many victims self-transported to local hospitals in addition to those who left by ambulance. South Carolina law enforcement officials helped restore order by announcing that there was no active shooter, and that people were running for no reason.

“Crowd Crushes” Can Lead to Traumatic Asphyxia and Death

Stampedes are also called “crowd crushes,” and they easily suffocate victims. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that this type of mass casualty event can lead to “traumatic asphyxia” or suffocation. Other potential injuries include damaged organs, such as liver injury. Although it might seem difficult to suffocate someone simply by stepping on them, sufficient pressure on a victim’s torso prevents their chest from expanding. If their chest cannot expand, the victim cannot draw in breath.

Who Is Responsible for Crowd Crushes and Stampedes?

Often, crowd crushes and stampedes occur due to poor event planning and lackluster safety measures. Event planners must consider the threat of stampedes when setting up exits, barriers, and anything that might channel crowds of people into “choke points.” Event organizers and property owners may also need to quickly de-escalate the situation with loudspeakers, stopping stampedes before they get out of hand.

If you believe that a property owner or event organizer should have done more to prevent your stampede injuries, you may be right. A negligent security lawyer in South Carolina could potentially help you pursue compensation for missed wages, medical bills, and other damages.

Can a Negligent Security Lawyer in South Carolina Help Me?

Stampedes can cause fatal or catastrophic injuries for victims. These incidents are also incredibly traumatic, leading to PTSD and other mental health issues. If you were trampled at a public event, the event organizer or property owner may be responsible. Learn more about potential compensation by contacting South Carolina negligent security lawyers at Mickelsen & Dalton, LLC.

Sources: 

people.com/at-least-19-injured-stampede-causes-mass-casualty-incident-south-carolina-biker-festival-11983130

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9810257/