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Explore the various types of festival accidents and injuries, as well as how an award-winning injury law firm can help you if the unimaginable occurs.
Many people from all walks of life gather every April to attend one of the most-awaited music festivals in the world – Coachella. For two weekends, about 250,000 attendees head over to Southern California to enjoy vibrant musical performances from top artists. They also get to try various art activities, ride the Ferris wheel, explore different cuisines, and set up camping tents at the 600-acre venue.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has become a pillar activity for individuals since 1999. Festivalgoers from all over the nation, and specifically from Greater Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, flock to Indio to enjoy the entertainment.
While everyone goes there to have fun, be it for the theme park or the music concert, the fact is accidents and disasters do occur. Examples include a stage collapse in Indiana (2011), shooting deaths at Las Vegas’ Stagecoach Festival in 2017, and a dancer’s 20-foot fall accident during Coachella 2023.
Between traveling to and from Coachella, along with the festival itself, you should not take your safety for granted. Extreme injuries at entertainment venues, such as serious head injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and whiplash injuries, as well as traumatic brain injuries and wrongful deaths, do occur.
Typical Festival Injury Incidents in California
Here are some of the most common accidents that we have encountered at festivals:
- Vehicle vs. vehicle accidents, which could involve event delivery trucks, food trucks, 18-wheel trailers, etc.
- Traffic accidents involving attendees going to and coming from the event
- Trip & fall and slip & fall accidents
- Premises liabilities and hazards
- Crush incidents involving stages, falling props, people, and temporary structures
- Fainting due to heat fatigue and dehydration
- Altercations resulting from alcohol and drug use
- Disorderly people and crowds due to a lack of security
- Car vs. pedestrian accidents
- Assault (physical or sexual), battery, terrorism, and the use of weapon violence
Many unfortunate incidents occur at festivals or any events that host a large crowd. Accidents and instances of violence can bring about serious injuries that quickly turn a supposedly fun memory into something you’d want to forget.
Here are some injury-resulting accidents that have happened in Coachella in recent years:
Teenager Attending Coachella 2016 Dies After Car Accident
An 18-year-old female attendee passed away after being hit by a car near the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California. The victim, identified as Michala Freeland of Highland, was struck by a vehicle around 8:15 p.m. on Friday (April 15, 2016), close to where the festival took place. The victim’s family informed news outlets that Freeland was only in town to attend the music event’s Friday night session.
According to the Riverside County coroner’s office, Freehand was rushed to Eisenhower Medical Center, where she died about an hour after the car accident. The driver of the Jeep Cherokee that crashed into the victim seemingly cooperated with police in their investigation.
Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be the cause of the accident, according to officers.
Festivalgoer Dies, Another Seriously Injured In Coachella 2018 Car Accident
Three people got involved in a single-vehicle accident on April 14, 2018, while on their way to Coachella. The fatal car accident left one victim dead, one seriously injured, and one with minor injuries.
The driver, a 21-year-old male, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into two trees. He suffered a cut to his face. The 16-year-old front-seat passenger sustained life-threatening injuries. The two victims were rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center.
Unfortunately, the impact ejected the 18-year-old female backseat passenger from her seat, and she was pronounced dead at the scene by Cal Fire paramedics.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) found alcohol in the vehicle, but it ruled out alcohol and drugs as contributing factors to the accident.
Worker Dies In Fall Accident While Setting Up Stage For Coachella 2019
A stagehand who worked with the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for 20 years (since the beginning of the event) was killed Saturday morning. He fell at least 60 feet from the scaffolding connected to a stage near Monroe Street and Avenue 50 on the grounds of the Empire Polo Club in Indio.
Late Saturday, April 6, 2019, the Riverside County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Christopher Griffin, 49, of San Diego. Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron said emergency workers were called out at about 9:30 a.m. to respond to an accident on the Empire Polo Club grounds. The fire department also notified Cal/OSHA since the incident occurred on a worksite and is considered an industrial accident.
Artist Falls Onstage, Suffers Minor Injuries At Coachella 2024
The pregnant Nelly Furtado suffered a minor cut on her thumb after falling on stage during her ‘Eat Your Man’ performance with Dom Dolla at this year’s Coachella festival. Fans expressed concern when they heard the sound of the fall through her microphone, but the Canadian artist was quick to assure her fans she was fine.
Common Injuries In Music Festivals
Many victims attending festivals suffer heat fatigue, dehydration, alcohol and drug-related injuries, fractures, eye injuries, and ear damage. Let’s look at each of these more closely.
Heat Fatigue
Festivals are usually held in the summer, which means attendees are subject to high temperatures and added humidity due to crowded spaces. Temperatures at Coachella can go as high as over 90 degrees, often without clouds to provide shade. As such, attendees have no choice but to enjoy the event under the heat of the sun. If you don’t apply sunscreen or have a fan to keep yourself cool, you could suffer from sunburn, nausea, fatigue, or heat stroke.
Dehydration
The Coachella Music Festival is held in Indio, CA, within Southern California’s Colorado Desert region. During the summer, the daytime temperatures here range from 63°F to 120°F. Heat causes you to sweat and, therefore, lose water in your body faster. If you don’t keep yourself hydrated, you could experience headaches, dizziness, and fainting. Make sure you seek some shade from time to time and drink lots of water.
Alcohol & Drug-Related Injuries
A lot of festivalgoers drink alcohol or use drugs to enhance their experience. However, drinking too much alcohol or overdosing on illegal drugs can cause them and other guests to end up in the hospital. These substances can negatively affect your cognitive functions, cause seizures, and even lead to death.
Moreover, some attendees who drink at the event might still choose to drive home, potentially causing a drunk-driving accident.
Fractures
Festivals have a lot of tripping hazards, such as unpaved outdoor grounds, litter, and the attendees’ personal items. These can lead to sprains or fractures in the case of a bad fall. Additionally, festival crowds are often rowdy. The recklessness of someone else can easily cause you to fall and sustain a broken arm or leg.
Eye Injuries
Some festivals use lasers for their shows or performances. While they are beautiful to watch, these lasers can easily cause eye injuries, leading to headaches, excessive tears, and floaters. Other objects, such as confetti or fireworks, could also get into your eyes and irritate them.
Ear Damage
You can sustain ear damage from loud or excessive noise at festivals. Loud music from speakers can cause hearing loss or tinnitus. Make sure you protect your ears from loud noises by staying away from festival speakers or bringing earplugs.
Other Injuries
With the number of people attending festivals, it’s quite impossible to completely make sure no one is sneaking in any weapons like knives or guns to the venue. Unfortunately, this also means you can suffer stab or gunshot wounds even though you’re just trying to enjoy your experience.
8 Great Tips For Staying Safe At Coachella 2024
In an event as large as Coachella, the best thing you can do to avoid danger is to look out for yourself. Here are some of the best tips for staying safe at festivals:
Look Out For Each Other
Be responsible for your decisions, and make sure you and your friends are looking out for each other. Keep in touch with your friends periodically, and have a plan in place in case someone gets separated from the group.
If one seems to be getting too drunk, encourage them to stop drinking alcohol until they sober up. Help each other avoid causing disturbances or offending other festivalgoers. Remember, strangers, especially those under the influence, might act unpredictably and do something that would cause injuries to you and your friends.
Similarly, if a friend insists on going to an afterparty alone, make sure they know the possible repercussions of their decision and the dangers they may face. If you believe they can’t make a sound decision themselves, prioritize keeping them safe. Ask your friends to do the same for you.
Always Ask For Consent
Not asking for consent before doing something to someone can be considered harassment. Always ask for permission, whether from strangers or friends, before holding their hands or hugging them. The same goes for when you’re trying to take a picture of or with someone or planning to buy them a drink.
Always Stay Hydrated And Be Prepared For The Heat
Don’t subject yourself to dehydration-related injuries. Make sure you drink at least one cup of water every hour you spend at the festival. Don’t just keep drinking alcohol! It may quench your thirst, but it actually dehydrates you faster.
As Coachella is on open grounds, you would also have to prepare for the sun. Bring sunblock and apply it regularly to protect your skin.
Familiarize Yourself With The Festival Layout
Take the time to explore and identify where your nearest Safe Space, Medical Tent, and Info/Security Kiosks are located. These locations can provide you with the necessary assistance in case of an emergency.
Moreover, take note of the emergency exits in the venue. Make sure you know the nearest exits from wherever you are and how to access them quickly and safely. This information can be critical in the event of a fire, a crowd stampede, or any other emergency situation.
Also, avoid going to isolated or hidden areas at the venue. Stick with your friends and stay in areas where people can easily see you. Make sure you always carry a whistle or personal safety alarm in case of an emergency.
Be Respectful Of Other People’s Cultures
Let other festivalgoers have fun doing their traditions and cultures at an event, especially if these aren’t bringing harm to or inconveniencing anyone else. Furthermore, if you’re attending a festival outside of your country, make sure you educate yourself about their culture so that you don’t unknowingly violate their laws or offend anyone.
Challenge Yourself And Your Peers To Be More Mindful
It’s easy to get lost in the moment, but remember that you can’t be too complacent. In a sea of people you barely know, danger could be just around the corner. There’s no harm in being a little more aware of the things going on around you.
Do not readily accept drinks from strangers unless the bottles or containers are sealed and they open them in front of you.
Also, make sure to bring pain relievers and medications in their original packaging or containers. By doing so, you can make sure they’re safe for you to consume. Furthermore, you don’t have to ask for these from others who may have mixed something else into the formulation beforehand.
If you get invited to an afterparty, the post-event high may prompt you to say yes without thinking twice. However, you have to remember that these events aren’t always safe. Some people only use it as a disguise to get you alone so they can do what they want with you.
Generally speaking, when someone invites you but not your friends, you should go the safe route and decide against going.
Keep Your Valuables Safe
Incidences of theft are almost always present at concerts and festivals. As such, you should only bring your essentials. Keep in your car trunk the things you won’t need at the event. And as for the things you bring, make sure to keep them in a secure, anti-theft bag or your zipped pockets.
Always be mindful of where you keep your phone and wallet. If you want, you can label these valuables. However, make sure only to include your name and not your address. Those who have this information might follow you or break into your home.
Enjoy Yourself Responsibly And Take Care Of Your Peers
Let yourselves loosen up and have fun. However, you should still know your limits and not go over them. Look out for each other, and try to stay in your group as much as possible.
Festival and concertgoers, especially women, are vulnerable to harassment and assault. To keep yourself safe from physical or sexual assault, avoid walking alone. Whether you’re buying food or going to the bathroom, make sure you’re always with a friend.
Moreover, the sale and consumption of alcohol have long been part of festival and concert culture. Unfortunately, some people don’t know their limits, while others intentionally waste and act inappropriately. Alcohol also causes motor vehicle accidents, especially on the attendees’ way home.
On the other hand, drugs are also becoming a common element at concerts and festivals despite being illegal. Event organizers prohibit drugs, even marijuana, but that doesn’t mean people don’t use them anymore. However, heat, dehydration, excessive movement, and the use of drugs are quite literally a deadly combination.
Pre-Coachella Tips And Checklist
Here are some things you should get in order before attending the two-weeklong Coachella festival:
- Turn on your location and make sure to share it with your group. It’s also good practice to set up a meeting place beforehand in case you get separated from each other or lose phone service during the event.
- Pack a first-aid kit with ointments, bandages, and common medications. If you’re taking special medications, make sure to read the fine print and see if there could be side effects or possible complications when you take them with other substances like alcohol.
- Wear practical clothes that fit well. You’re likely going to be at the festival for the whole day, so you should wear something that keeps you comfortable.
- Bring a power bank so you can enjoy and document the whole event without worrying about your phone’s battery. It’s also convenient for making sure you can reach your friends when it’s time to go home.
- Don’t bring your Hydroflask, Stanley Cups, or other insulated tumblers to Coachella, as these aren’t allowed. If you want, you can bring a clear plastic bottle, which you can refill at the free water refilling stations at the venue. Make sure it’s empty when you enter the venue, though.
- Bring some cash with you, as some stalls might not accept cards, or their card machines could malfunction. Remember to keep your cash somewhere secure so it doesn’t get stolen.
- When driving or commuting to and from the venue, make sure you are fully sober. And if you’re intoxicated, ask someone else to drive you on the way home.
- Keep an emergency contact number on your person in case something (like a medical emergency) happens that prevents you from calling them yourself.
As the famous saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. One of the ways you can enjoy Coachella to the fullest is knowing you’re as safe as you could be because you’ve prepared all these things beforehand.
What To Do Immediately After An Injury In Coachella
Even if you’re extra careful, accidents could still happen, especially at high-energy, jam-packed events like Coachella. If you get injured, ensure your safety by following these steps:
- Stay calm and assess your injuries.
- Go to the nearest medical tent and report the incident to an info kiosk or the security staff.
- For serious injuries or in cases of immediate danger, call 911.
- Document the scene and your injury by taking photos and videos.
- If other people witnessed the incident, collect their names and contact information.
- Seek further medical attention, even if your injury seems minor.
- Get legal advice from personal injury lawyers to learn about your rights and options.
Whenever Somebody Else Is At Fault For An Injury
If you get injured because of someone’s negligence, reckless habits, or intentional conduct, then you need a powerhouse personal injury law firm in California to hold at-fault parties accountable. Personal injury claims and lawsuits, including festival-associated injuries, can be incredibly intricate. The festival itself, suppliers, outdoor security companies, and other organizations might be at fault. Furthermore, contracts between the various at-fault parties, as well as insurance problems, are sure to make matters more complex.
To ensure your dream trip to the desert doesn’t become a headache, utilize the pal system, let loved ones know where you are, make sure to drink plenty of water, and always know where the security kiosks are. If the unthinkable happens, however, we stand prepared to work relentlessly on your case so you can focus on recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Liable If I Get Injured At Coachella?
The event organizers or hosts may be held liable if you’re injured at a festival or concert. They have the responsibility to keep the venue safe for attendees. So, if you get injured by lasers or fallen props, you can file a personal injury claim against them. The same goes for venue owners, event promoters, producers, and security companies.
However, other attendees could share some liability, too. Their misconduct and wrongful actions could lead to accidents, causing injuries to other festivalgoers.
If you get injured at Coachella, our California personal injury attorneys can identify who is at fault for your accident. We can also help you get maximum compensation for the damages you suffer.
Can Injured Attendees File A Claim After An Accident At Coachella?
Yes, and it is encouraged. Festivals and concerts can be dangerous, especially when people start getting caught up in the excitement of it all. People in the mosh pit might trample you, and crowd-surfing can result in injuries. Other attendees might also harass you or commit other acts of violence.
In these cases, event organizers will always try to deny their liability, making your claim more difficult to win. If you want to make sure you can get properly compensated for an injury that wasn’t your fault, contact our award-winning California law firm.
Do I Need A Personal Injury Lawyer For An Accident In Coachella?
To ensure you get what you’re entitled to, you need personal injury attorneys who can advocate for your rights and negotiate with the insurance companies. A trustworthy legal team can guide you through the complicated process of filing a personal injury claim, provide support, and represent you in trial if needed.
Injured In Coachella? Choose The Top-Rated Personal Injury Law Firm California Trusts!
If you get injured at Coachella or any other festival, you need to hire competent lawyers who will protect your rights and advocate for your best interests. That’s us!
Arash Law has many decades of experience going against big companies that try to undermine injured victims. We’ve won over $500 Million in compensation for our clients, so you can trust that we have the knowledge and skills that could help take your claim to victory.
Our team of experienced lawyers, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., will use our resources to make sure we build you a solid claim. Let us take care of the legal aspect of your accident so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Call us at (888) 488-1391 today so we can discuss your case for free! You may also fill out our “Do I Have A Case?” form and wait for a personal injury attorney near you to reach out regarding your concern.
