Shopping events occasionally get out of control, resulting in injuries and even deaths. (In recent years, several deaths have occurred at various Black Friday store openings in the U.S.) Does a company have the responsibility to police events like this when it knows or should know that violence may erupt?
New phone launch events have become increasingly chaotic, with some people lining up weeks in advance to purchase the latest handsets. But a recent LG event takes the cake for craziest phone launch yet. At a release party for LG’s G2 Smartphone, vouchers for a free phone were attached to balloons. When the balloons were released, the crowd went crazy.
According to one report, attendees at the Seoul, South Korea event came up with some creative ways to bring down the balloons and secure themselves a free phone. One person brought a net—innocent enough—but others brought BB guns with the intent to shoot the balloons down. One women even brought along a spear. Unsurprisingly, at least twenty people were injured at the event.
Who’s responsible when someone is injured at an event like a phone release, Black Friday shopping event, or a sneaker release event? In a violent confrontation, a person who assaults another can be held liable, but most individuals have limited resources to pay a judgment. A store that sponsors a shopping event may also be held liable for injuries to shoppers that result from the crush of a crowd and even the out-of-control behavior of other shoppers.
It’s important to hire an experienced Texas personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an injury to secure your rights if you’ve been injured by out-of-control shoppers. Without the assistance of a competent personal injury attorney, essential evidence may be lost, damaging your case and reducing your recovery.
This holiday season, I encourage you to stay safe at shopping events. The amount that you save on an item could be nothing compared to the medical bills that you could incur from an injury.
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