On February 23rd 2013 in Daytona Florida, NASCAR fans at a race were thrown into fear as a car flew into the fence during the final laps- sending debris flying and injuring over 30 spectators. The injuries ranged from minor to critical, and spanned from adult to child.
Investigations showed that in the 12-car accident, the front end of one of the racecars had been sheared off which sent the flaming engine through a large hole in the fence. After the accident, Tony Stewart, a NASCAR driver said, “We’ve always known, and since racing started, this is a dangerous sport…We assume that risk, but it’s hard when the fans get caught up in it.”
Settlements are starting to be considered but with some skepticism. Why? On the back of most sporting event tickets you can find a liability waiver, which could be viewed as a contract freeing NASCAR of all responsibility. However, if the injuries were the result of negligence on the part of the fence manufacturer- would that still be a binding contract? The lawyer for the injured fans expressed his view that these injuries were beyond the accepted risk and they crossed into gross negligence.
Injuries at a sporting event are not uncommon in the southeastern Massachusetts area, and it is important that you know your rights to receive the compensation that you deserve. At Wynn and Wynn we pay attention to detail and are here to help you- whatever your legal need. If you have been injured at an event, contact us today for a consultation. Call 1-800-852-5211 or click here to schedule a consultation.
