Any time people gather together in large numbers, they automatically increase their risk of someone experiencing an injury. At stadiums and arenas, the chances of someone experiencing an injury is very high. In fact, slip and falls are notoriously commonplace. However, not all slip and fall accidents are treated equally in the eyes of the law. Consequently, anyone who has slipped and fell at a stadium should be prepared to talk about their situation as soon as possible with a knowledgeable attorney who practices personal injury and premises liability law.
Why Do Slip and Fall Incidents Occur at Stadiums?
Slip and fall accidents can happen for a wide variety of reasons in stadiums. Yet, one of the most common is a wet or slippery walking surface. For instance, a corridor might be completely inundated with water after a rainstorm, or a bathroom floor could end up looking more like a shallow pool. Stairways can quickly become slippery due to dropped vendor foods and spilled beverages.
Many people assume that this means that all slip and falls are immediately someone else’s responsibility. This is not the case. In fact, a stadium owner or organizer may get off the hook, even if someone experiences a debilitating slip and fall that leads to a lifetime of pain and medical treatments.
When Can a Stadium Owner Be Held Responsible?
All stadium owners and organizers have the responsibility to carry insurance to cover them in slip and fall situations. At the same time, not all situations are deemed the owner’s fault. A plaintiff must prove that a slip and fall occurred because of an unreasonable condition, and that the owner knew about it and neglected to fix the issue.
If a football fan falls a minute after someone in his row spills a glass of beer, the stadium owner will not be deemed at-fault. The owner could not have known about the beverage spill or cleaned it up in time. Alabama practices contributory negligence, which means that if the plaintiff was partly responsible, they cannot collect any damages. The owner could argue that the fan should have seen the spill and walked around it. Because of Alabama’s contributory negligence rule, victims of stadium slip and fall accidents must be careful when filing personal injury lawsuits.
Huntsville Personal Injury Lawyers at Hodges Trial Lawyers, P.C. Fight for Those Injured in Stadium Slip and Fall Accidents
If you fell in a stadium and believe that you were not at-fault, the Huntsville personal injury lawyers at Hodges Trial Lawyers, P.C. can help. Call us at 256-539-3110 or contact us online for a free consultation today. Located in Huntsville and Athens, Alabama, we work with clients throughout Limestone County, North Alabama, Jackson County, Lauderdale County, Marshall County, Morgan County, and Madison County.
