Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Pushing, hordes of people crushed into a tight space and pandemonium are what can be seen in various clips that have gone viral online of the free Miami Beach concert over the weekend.
The event, allegedly featuring artists such as Calvin Harris and John Summit, was hosted by AT&T in partnership with the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship. Ahead of the weekend, barriers and other accommodations were seen being set up in Miami Beach ahead of the weekend in anticipation of about 20,000 people, according to reporting from The Miami New Times. However, as news spread of the free, all-ages event, it became clear that the crowd that had amassed was far larger than expected.
An estimated 30,000 people arrived at the event location, the outlet reported. Crowds can be seen rushing security and storming through barricades until police officers rushed to stop the crowd. At one point in the night, organizers issued a statement alerting concertgoers that they were at maximum capacity and would not be permitting anyone else to enter.
“If you are not already inside, please do not head to the park,” the social media message read. “We appreciate your support as our number one priority is maintaining a safe environment for [concertgoers].”
Allegedly, multiple people passed out and several others faced arrest for “tearing down structures,” media reported.
At Leesfield & Partners, a personal injury law firm with nearly five decades of experience throughout Florida, our attorneys know that accidents can occur at any time — no matter the venue. This is why, when planning an event that is sure to bring in a large crowd, planning and safety are of the utmost importance. While no one expects an accident or dangerous situation to occur at these events, the countless recoveries obtained on behalf of injured clients throughout the firm’s history are enough to prove that they do. Something as simple as slipping in the remnants of a spilled drink or missing a step in poor lighting can be enough to cause a painful injury with long-lasting impact.
No matter how the injury occurs, the injured party must have a way to recover lost wages due to permanent injuries or time spent recovering, as well as cover the often substantial medical expenses that result. When this happens, those responsible must be held accountable for failing to maintain a safe, hazard-free environment for patrons. And this isn’t simply the opinion of the skilled trial attorneys at Leesfield & Partners. It’s Florida law.
Premises Liability
Under premises liability, a legal principle that holds property owners and management companies responsible for harm to patrons, these entities owe a duty of care to maintain a safe premises. Likewise, if an issue arises, it is the duty of the property owner and/or management company to address and fix any hazard in a timely manner.
For example, if a crowded bar on Miami Beach fails to provide adequate security or properly control the number of patrons inside, and an incident occurs that causes the crowd to panic and rush, resulting in injury, the injured person may have grounds to file a premises liability claim.
In such cases, it is the bar’s legal responsibility to ensure sufficient security measures and crowd management to protect guests from foreseeable harm. In this scenario, it would be the bar’s responsibility to anticipate the risk of overcrowding and hire sufficient security or implement crowd-control measures to prevent harm.
Leesfield & Partners: 49 Years of Leading Results in Monroe County
Ira Leesfield, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, previously advocated for the passage of carbon monoxide protections in the state. This stemmed from a Leesfield & Partners case that attracted the attention of nationwide outlets after numerous people were exposed to the colorless, odorless, gas at a Key West hotel.
Mr. Leesfield obtained a confidential settlement for the family who was visiting the area from Iowa.
The source of the carbon monoxide leak in this case was a boiler roof vent that had been improperly repaired following damage during Hurricane Wilma. The hotel failed to have a licensed technician to repair or inspect the vent.
Leesfield & Partners has handled countless matters on behalf of clients who have been injured due to the negligence of event organizers, hotels, management companies, cruise lines, and more.
Negligent Security
In the vein of ensuring the safety of patrons, guests and other invitees to the property, owners must have proper security measures to protect them from foreseeable crimes. While property owners are not liable for the criminal acts of a third party, they must take reasonable precautions like installing security cameras, properly lighting the area around their property and, if needed, security guards to deter violence. If the property has a known history of criminal acts that property owners did nothing to warn or protect guests from, then the owners or property managers can be held liable.
In a historic negligent security case involving a Key West hotel, Leesfield & Partners represented a woman who was attacked by a hammer in an parking garage. The woman was attacked in the unlocked parking garage of a resort hotel in the area where a man was able to enter and roam around in a “drug-induced” state without being approached or questioned by any security. The man wandered for about 20 minutes before encountering our client and beginning the violent attack.
As a result of this horrific ordeal, she suffered serious and permanent injuries to her face and head. The hotel entered into a confidential settlement the night before a $40,580,000 verdict was handed down against the remaining defendant.
In another Monroe County case, Leesfield & Partners represented a hotel housekeeper who was brutally raped on the job by a man who was not a guest at the property. The firm settled the case for $1 million.
The firm recovered $1 million for the family of a 26-year-old who tragically died after being assaulted at a Monroe County bar.
If you or a loved one was involved in an accident, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today at 305-854-4900 to see if you may be eligible to make a claim.
