Concert & Music Festival Accident Claims

Going to a concert or music festival is supposed to be an exciting and enjoyable experience. But when staff or organisers fail to take the necessary safety precautions, it can quickly turn into a distressing incident that could leave you scarred for life. In such cases, you may be eligible to make a concert accident claim for personal injury compensation.

Concert and music festival accidents include slips, trips, and falls, crushes due to overcrowding, injuries from falling objects, and burns from pyrotechnic displays. Besides pain and suffering, these can also lead to long-term disability and financial losses that could be included in your claim.

To find out if you are entitled to compensation for a concert or music festival accident, contact us by calling 0800 470 0474 or using our online claim form. You will receive a free case assessment with no obligation to proceed.

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Table of Contents

• What is the duty of care of event organisers?
• Am I eligible to make a concert accident claim?
• How do I claim compensation for a concert or music festival accident?
• Can I claim compensation if I was injured working at a music festival or concert?
• What evidence do I need to claim compensation for a concert accident?
• What type of accidents could happen at concerts and music festivals?
  • Slips, trips and falls
  • Overcrowding incidents
  • Falls from height
  • Injuries caused by faulty equipment
  • Manual handling injuries
  • Food poisoning and allergic reactions
  • Assaults
• Can I make a compensation claim on behalf of a loved one?
• How much compensation can I claim for an accident at a concert?
• What is the time limit to make a concert injury claim?
• Can I make a claim on a No Win No Fee basis?
• How long does it take to make a music venue accident claim?

What is the duty of care of event organisers?

Event organisers and venue owners have a legal duty of care towards attendees and the general public. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, they must take reasonable steps to prevent accidents and injuries during concerts and music festivals, including:

• Ensure that the venue and facilities are structurally safe.
• Plan for emergencies, such as evacuation, severe weather or medical emergencies.
• Keep all areas of the venue free from hazards such as spills, debris and uneven ground.
• Provide adequate lighting in all areas.
• Ensure that the venue’s capacity is not exceeded to prevent overcrowding.
• Provide staff and volunteers with information and training on safety procedures and potential risks.
• Ensure the event complies with all relevant health and safety regulations.
• Have adequate signage in place to warn attendees about potential hazards.

If a breach of duty leads to an accident and injury, you may be eligible to make a concert accident claim.

Am I eligible to make a concert accident claim?

The easiest way to assess your eligibility for compensation is through a free consultation with a personal injury solicitor. They will ask you a few questions to determine whether:

• The defendant owed you a legal duty of care.
• They breached this duty and caused you to be involved in an accident.
• You suffered an injury or injuries as a direct result of that accident.
• You are within the legal time limit for starting a claim (usually 3 years).

If your case fulfils these criteria, you should be eligible to proceed with a personal injury compensation claim.

How do I claim compensation for a concert or music festival accident?

If you suffered injuries at a concert venue, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention, even if the injuries seem relatively minor. This will ensure they are well documented and you have medical records to support your claim.

You should also:

• Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries and any hazards.
• Ask for the contact details of witnesses.
• Report the accident to the staff or management and make sure it is properly recorded.
• Get in touch as soon as possible with a specialist solicitor for legal advice.

If you can proceed with a claim, your solicitor will guide you through the next steps of the claims process. They will file your claim with the defendant, handle all communication with them and negotiate your compensation. If needed, they will also prepare for a court trial, although most claims are settled without going to court.

Can I claim compensation if I was injured working at a music festival or concert?

If you were injured while working at a concert or music venue, you may be able to make a claim against your employer. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, they owe you a legal duty of care to keep you safe from harm and must:

• Carry out thorough risk assessments.
• Provide proper training and supervision.
• Supply suitable personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ensure all equipment and machinery are safe to use.
• Have clear emergency procedures in place.

If any of these or other duties were breached and you were injured, you could make an accident at work claim against your employer.

This legal right is guaranteed by the Employment Rights Act 1996, and you cannot be sacked or disciplined for initiating a claim. If your employer retaliates, you can take further action at an employment tribunal.

What evidence do I need to claim compensation for a concert accident?

To support a claim for an accident at a concert venue,  you should try to collect as much evidence as possible. This could include:

• Medical records establishing the type and severity of your injuries, their cause and the treatments you received.
• Photographs of the accident scene, your injuries and anything that may have contributed to the accident, such as broken handrails or overcrowding.
• CCTV or video footage of the incident, if available, can prove exactly what happened.
• Your testimony regarding the events, your symptoms and the impact on your life.
• Witness statements from anyone who saw what happened can help support your version of events.
• A copy of an accident report filed with the venue owner or your employer (if you were working).
• Financial documents such as receipts for medical treatment and payslips, to prove the losses and expenses incurred because of the accident.

Your solicitor will help you gather any essential documents that you are missing to support your claim.

What type of accidents could happen at concerts and music festivals?

Accidents at concerts and music festivals can happen for many reasons, such as poor organisation, overcrowding or unsafe structures.

The most common types of accidents at music events include:

Slips, trips and falls

These are among the most frequent types of accidents in public places. They can happen due to various hazards, including slippery floors, uneven stairs, poor lighting and tripping over equipment. Slips, trips and fall accidents can cause:

• Sprains and strains.
• Fractures and dislocations.
• Cuts, bruises and soft tissue injuries.
• Head and facial injuries.
• Back or spinal injuries.

Overcrowding incidents

Poor crowd control or management can quickly turn dangerous and lead to surges and stampedes. These can cause various injuries, such as:

• Crush injuries and internal organ damage.
• Broken bones.
• Breathing difficulties or asphyxiation.
• Head and neck trauma.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Falls from height

Both staff and members of the public may fall from raised platforms, stages and sitting structures. This could be due to poorly designed or unstable platforms, missing guardrails or a lack of warning signage, and could cause:

• Severe fractures and dislocations.
• Spinal cord injuries.
• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
• Severe bruising and lacerations.
• Internal bleeding and organ damage.

Injuries caused by faulty equipment

Poorly installed or maintained equipment like speakers, lighting, staging, and pyrotechnics can collapse or malfunction, posing a risk of injuries such as:

• Crush injuries.
• Broken bones.
• Head and facial injuries.
• Burn injuries and electric shocks.
• Nerve damage and cardiac complications.
• Fatal injuries.

Manual handling injuries

Staff working at concerts and festivals often have to lift and carry heavy objects such as speakers, amplifiers and stage equipment. Without proper training or lifting equipment, manual handling can lead to painful and lasting injuries, such as:

• Back strain and spinal injuries.
• Shoulder and neck pain.
• Hernias.
• Repetitive strain injuries.

Food poisoning and allergic reactions

Food vendors at concerts must follow strict hygiene and food safety laws. Food that is stored incorrectly, undercooked, contaminated or inadequately labelled can lead to:

• Food poisoning illnesses.
• Life-threatening allergic reactions.
• Hospitalisation and long-term health conditions.

Assaults

Without adequate security measures and crowd control, fights and assaults can occur at crowded concerts and festivals. Possible injuries include:

• Cuts, bruises and lacerations.
• Fractured eye sockets and broken noses.
• Concussions or brain injuries.
• Psychological trauma.

If you suffered any of these or similar injuries at a concert, a specialist personal injury lawyer could help you make a claim for compensation.

Can I make a compensation claim on behalf of a loved one?

If a loved one has been injured in an accident at a concert venue, you could make a compensation claim on their behalf if they are:

• A child under the age of 18.
• An adult who lacks the ability to make a claim themselves, either due to their injuries or a pre-existing condition such as Down syndrome.

To claim for your loved one, you must first be named as their litigation friend by a court. This involves producing evidence that you can competently represent them, and there is no conflict of interest between you.

How much compensation can I claim for an accident at a concert?

The compensation awarded for music venue accident claims is calculated based on two types of damages:

• General damages are based on the type and severity of your injury and the impact on your life. These could include physical pain, mental distress, scarring, disability and loss of amenity.
• Special damages cover the related financial losses and expenses, such as loss of earnings during recovery, private medical treatments and care costs.

According to the Judicial College Guidelines and our personal injury compensation calculator, you could receive:

• £737 to £3,509 for minor hand injuries with complete recovery within a few months.
• £4,180 to £9,900 for a fractured clavicle with complete recovery.
• Up to £15,370 for minor to moderate elbow injuries.
• £6,020 to £13,740 for knee injuries resulting in ongoing minor symptoms.
• £24,990 to £38,490 for neck injuries causing chronic pain and mobility issues.
• £9,110 to £30,090 for facial burns causing significant facial scarring.
• £219,070 to £282,010 for severe brain injuries causing loss of feeling and some degree of mental disability.
• £23,150 to £59,860 for moderately severe PTSD  with some possible recovery in the future.

What is the time limit to make a concert injury claim?

Typically, you have three years from the date of the accident to claim for injuries sustained while attending a concert or music festival. This deadline is imposed by the Limitation Act 1980, which does allow a few exceptions:

• For minors, the three-year limitation period does not begin until their 18th birthday.
• If the injured party is mentally incapacitated and can’t start a claim, the time limit is suspended.
• If a family member passed away following an accident at a festival, the three year period begins from the date of death.

It is best to discuss your claim with a solicitor as early as possible, as this will allow them to build the best case on your behalf.

Can I make a claim on a No Win No Fee basis?

If you were injured at a concert venue and are entitled to compensation for your injuries, one of our partner solicitors would be happy to represent you on a no win no fee basis. This means that:

• You will not have to pay them anything upfront.
• You only pay them if you receive compensation. In this case, they will deduct a pre-agreed success fee from your payment, capped by law at 25%.
• If you lose the concert injury claim, you don’t pay them a single penny.

How long does it take to make a music venue accident claim?

There is no set timeframe to settle a concert venue injury claim. The claims process can take from 3 months to several years, depending on a number of factors, such as:

• Whether the defendant admits liability.
• The severity and complexity of your injuries.
• How quickly evidence can be gathered.
• Whether your case proceeds to court.

Your solicitor will work to secure the best possible outcome in the shortest time. They may also be able to request interim payments on your behalf while the case is ongoing.

To start a claim for a concert or music festival accident, call 0800 470 0474 today or request a call back.

Last edited on 27th Oct 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.