Concert Turns Tragic at BB&T Pavilion in Camden — Railing Collapses During Snoop Dogg Concert Injuring More Than 40 People
Catching the headlines this morning and reading about the catastrophe last night during the Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa concert at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden struck at my core: first as a father and then as a lawyer. A good friend just mentioned last week that he was taking his daughter to a concert this upcoming weekend at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey so it was a shock to see headlines this morning such as this one on the NBC local news: Railing Collapses During Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa Concert at BB&T Pavilion in Camden Injuring 42, 1 Critically.
I know, like every parent knows, what it’s like to sleep with one eye open, and one ear listening. It’s an instinct we have when our children are babies, and we never really lose it, do we? As parents, we do our best to keep our children safe, and we know that as they grow older and spread their wings, their safety will often be in the hands of others, to some degree or another. When our kids go to a concert, the last thing on our minds are collapsing railings. You hear about it at large sporting events such as soccer games overseas, but not in this type of scenario. You worry about weapons, drugs, and everyone else attending that concert, and even the staff — but not the structural integrity of the venue.
As a trial lawyer who has long represented victims of tragedies, I know that those “others” — concert promoters, the owners and managers of entertainment venues, department stores, sporting venues, and the like — have special obligations under the law. Obligations that non-lawyers might not know about.
It goes without saying the concerts are for having fun, to be free, experience the event with friends and loved ones, and enjoy the entertainment. It is not a place where people should have to be on the lookout to make sure that those who take money to host the events are not cutting corners when it comes to ours and our children’s safety.
At MOREMARRONE our thoughts are with the victims of the BB&T catastrophe, parents and children alike, and we are always here to help. If you have questions about the incident, how to handle this type of situation or anything along those lines, we always recommend seeking professional assistance of those in the know and not to simply “go with the flow” of what others close to the situation may be advising you, your family or friends.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I OR A LOVED ONE IS A VICTIM OF THE BB&T TRAGEDY?
First: Count your blessings that you are still alive, and make sure you or your loved one gets all required the medical attention.
Second: Get a lawyer. NOW. The owners and promoters of the concert, their “security” company, and their insurance companies almost certainly already have lawyers advising them what to do next. SO SHOULD YOU.
Third: DO NOT talk to any representative of the concert promotors or their insurance companies, and do not under any circumstances make any sworn or unsworn statements to anyone other than a law enforcement officer.
Become informed — and most lawyers will discuss your situation for free so you have nothing to lose except potentially everything if you don’t protect yourself. It’s simply a matter of being smart and keeping in mind the players involved in any type of situation such as this, as well as their motives. Thinking through the specifics of what happened, the players involved, and realizing the many “moving parts” involved, should give you reason for pause. Get an experienced professional to work with moving forward.
As always, if any questions, feel free to contact us.
MOREMARRONE LLC
This is not your grandfather’s law firm. MOREMARRONE has a heart, a soul, and a will. Bare knuckled intellectuals. Original and nimble thinkers and doers who have produced some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We represent plaintiffs in substantial personal injury, catastrophe, class action, and complex civil litigation matters; individuals and businesses in crisis avoidance and crisis management; and we provide lawyer-to-lawyer case strategy and trial consulting and intervention. Experience, proven success, and peer reviews have earned Thomas More Marrone regular honors as The Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers, AVVO Clients’ Choice + perfect 10.0 rating, and Martindale Hubbell AV 5.0 Peer Rating for Highest Level of Professional Excellence.