Astroworld Music Festival Injuries
On Friday, November 5, 2021, a crowd surge during Travis Scott’s performance at the Astroworld Festival in Houston caused at least eight deaths and many more injuries.
About 50,000 people were at the sold-out festival when, just after 9 PM, the crowd surged toward the stage, squeezing audience members near the front who had nowhere to escape. The scene was terrible: people were crushed, screaming in terror, bleeding, and passing out due to inability to breathe.
Over 300 people were treated for crush injuries at a field hospital set up near the festival. At least 23 were treated at area hospitals, many for cardiac arrest.
Who is liable for an Astroworld injury?
The cause of the incident is still under investigation, but what we know now is troubling. Crowd surges are unfortunately not unheard of at large, crowded events – concerts, sporting events, even Black Friday shopping. Houston officials were particularly concerned about the potential for an unruly crowd at this festival, partially because of Scott’s local ties and partly because of the added anticipation after the 2020 festival was cancelled due to COVID-19. Houston’s police chief even met with Scott to discuss crowd control prior to the concert, according to news reports.
This is also not the first time serious injuries have occurred specifically at a Travis Scott performance. A man was paralyzed at a 2017 performance in Manhattan when he fell over a railing. The same year, Scott was arrested for allegedly inciting a riot when he “encouraged people to rush the stage” at a performance in Arkansas.
In addition to Travis Scott and Aubrey Drake Graham, who was on stage as well when the injury occurred, liability may fall on the venue, NRG Park, and the organizer, Live Nation.
What are Astroworld injury victims’ legal rights?
Astroworld injury victims and their family members need to make sure their legal rights are protected, potentially through a claim or lawsuit. Those injured by the crowd surge may be able to file a personal injury claim for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses, both associated with physical injuries and mental injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Families of those who died at the concert may likewise pursue accountability and justice through a wrongful death claim. An experienced concert injury attorney can help file a claim or lawsuit and guide you through the process.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation, but victims and their family members need to make sure their legal rights are protected. If you were injured or lost a loved one in this tragedy, we would be honored to listen to your story in a free, confidential consultation.