On November 5, 2021, Houston's Astroworld Music Festival ended in tragedy when 10 people died during Travis Scott's performance. According to the officials responsible for the victims' autopsies, the 10 people did not have access to enough oxygen because of how much the other concertgoers were pushing on them.
If you provide live music venue insurance, following the aftermath of the Astroworld tragedy is a necessity. Here's what you need to know about the lawsuits going on now and how your clients can avoid similar charges.
Over 100 people banded together to file a lawsuit with Harris County's District Court. The plaintiffs include people related to the 10 victims as well as people who were at the concert but did not die. Buzbee Law Firm, a Houston-based company that oversees personal injury cases, is representing all the plaintiffs.
Travis Scott is the main defendant in this case, but the lawsuit also alleges that the venue and its organizers acted illegally. Apple Music and Live Nation, a company that handles tickets for concerts and organizes tours, are among the other defendants.
Notify your live music venue insurance clients that the Astroworld case alleges that the concert organizers did not do enough to ensure that their patrons would stay safe. If proper safety protocols had been present, people would not have been so packed into the crowd that they ran out of room to breathe.
Travis Scott, also known as Jacques Webster, faces additional charges of encouraging people to act violently. Although the people who were being crushed in the crowd yelled for help, the rapper continued to perform, increasing the situation's danger. Both he and the venue organizer are facing charges of negligence.
Following the outcome of this criminal case is essential because future lawsuits against music venues are likely to follow whatever precedent this case sets. For example, if the Harris County District Court decides to find Travis Scott guilty of negligence, more artists may face similar charges if tragedies occur while they perform.
Your live music venue insurance clients should also use this case as an opportunity to examine their safety protocols. Do they violate the fire marshal's restrictions on how many people can gather in their concert venues? If so, it's time to start selling fewer tickets to their events, even if that means taking a pay cut.
Similarly, your clients should think about their emergency preparedness level. Do they have a medical team standing by in case people call out for help? Are there plenty of exits that are easy to access even in the middle of a concert?
At RMS Hospitality Group, our expertly crafted policies are written specifically for the hospitality industry. We offer custom tailored solutions to meet any venue's specific needs. For more information, contact our knowledgeable experts today at (888) 359-8390.
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