Super Bowl Injuries: Who’s Responsible?

January 30, 2019

Super Bowl Sunday is quickly approaching. In the heart of Colts country, we Hoosiers are no strangers to hosting the big game itself and throwing festivities to celebrate its arrival—even if we won’t see any horseshoe helmets on the field.

Everyone has their own traditions for the Super Bowl, and the last thing you want to think about during any of that is the possibility of you or someone you know getting hurt. Whether at the game itself, on the way to or from the stadium, or at a watch party at someone’s house or restaurant, injuries are an unfortunate reality for any gathering with crowds.

But if you are injured, who’s responsible? Let’s break it down.

At the Game

Stadiums host thousands of people, and there are few events across the world that bring in as big a crowd during a single night as the Super Bowl.

As such, the owners of the venue carry a responsibility to keep their patrons safe—all several thousand of them. They must enlist a security presence adequate to accommodate the potential pitfalls of thousands of spectators.

Should any hazardous situations arise, such as spills, equipment malfunctions, security threats, or anything else that can go awry at large events, then the owners must deal with them quickly and discretely.

If you’re injured at the Super Bowl as a direct result of a venue not performing these duties, then the event organizers or venue owners themselves will carry a degree of responsibility, depending on your specific situation.

Traveling to and from the Stadium

Say you’re driving back from watching Super Bowl LIII, and on the way, a driver cuts a little too close to you on the interstate and causes a car accident.

In the case of this collision, who’s responsible? With most car accidents, culpability often falls on all involved parties to different extents—most often based on which participants in the crash were or were not violating traffic laws. More blame falls on drivers deemed to have been speeding, making illegal turns, disregarding right-of-way rules, or tailgating aggressively. In Indiana, as long as you are fewer than 51 percent at fault for causing the accident, you can file a car accident claim to recover any losses you may have sustained.

At a Restaurant

Just like stadium owners and event runners, restaurant vendors bear a responsibility of reasonable care toward their guests (or “invitees” in premises liability law).

To prevent slip and fall injuries, they must keep floors clean of common spills and notify their patrons of hazardous spots (most often through “Wet Floor” signs) in their venue. If you or someone near you has spilled their drink, and the employees aren’t immediately aware of the situation, you should inform an employee or manager.

In addition, vendors must keep entrances and exits clear and conspicuous in the event of a safety incident. Emergency situations can become extremely dangerous if a crowd has no clear way to leave a dangerous area safely.

And just like at the game itself, if the restaurant owners clearly fail to keep their end of the vendor-invitee bargain, and you’re injured because of it, they can bear the blame for your situation.

At a House Party

On a smaller scale, homeowners also have a responsibility to their guests to provide a safe environment.

For instance, a homeowner in Indiana can be liable for a guest’s injuries if the harm came as a direct result of intoxication (from that specific guest or another) that the host both a) recognized and b) ignored and continued to serve alcohol anyway.

Help from an Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer

You don’t have to let an injury mar your Super Bowl Sunday experience. If you or someone you know has been injured, and you think the event hosts themselves may carry some responsibility, Hensley Legal Group may be able to help. Call us today or contact us online for a free conversation about your claim. Our personal injury lawyers are here to help.