CROWD SURGES AND MOSH PITS
CROWD SURGES AND MOSH PITS
Concert Dangers: Crowd Surges and Mosh Pits
Recently, several tragedies have occurred at concerts and music festivals around the country and in Las Vegas, Nevada, that have been in the news. These incidents have largely involved crowd surges that resulted in significant injuries and what officials called "mass casualty" incidents.
However, tragedies like these are nothing new. In 1979, 11 people died in a scramble to enter a Cincinnati, Ohio, concert put on by The Who. A crowd surge in 1989 led to nearly 100 deaths at the Hillsborough soccer stadium in England. Nine fans were trampled to death in a mosh pit during Pearl Jam's performance at the four-day festival in Denmark in 2000. In 2015, a collision between two crowds at the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia led to more than 2,400 deaths. In October 2017, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history occurred at a Las Vegas, Nevada concert when 60 people were killed, and hundreds were injured after a shooter opened fire at concertgoers from a room in the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Recently, three people were hospitalized, and more were injured following reports of gunshots that led to a crowd surge at Las Vegas' Lovers & Friends Festival in 2022.
What is a Crowd Surge?
History has shown that large mobs of people and a lack of proper crowd control at a venue can make for a deadly combination. A crowd surge typically occurs when a large group of people moves suddenly, restricting space and unrestrained movement, leading to people pushing forward and others getting trapped in an unbreakable formation. It can include a “crowd collapse,” which is when several people fall down and can’t get back up.
Contrary to popular belief, experts claim that the most common cause of death during a crowd surge is a restriction of oxygen and not injuries from getting trampled or pushed around.
How Are People Dying at Concerts and Music Festivals?
When a crowd surges, the force can be strong enough to bend steel and it can hit people from two directions: (1) from the rear of the crowd pushing forward; and (2) from the front of the crowd trying to escape. If some people have fallen, causing a pileup, force can even come from above. Unfortunately, people end up caught in the middle of these forces. In extreme cases, these forces can lead to asphyxia and death.
Mosh pits are also an expected concern at concerts. Moshing is an extreme style of dancing in which participants push or slam into each other, typically performed to "aggressive" live music such as heavy metal, punk rock, or hip hop where the concertgoers “rage.” Moshing usually happens in the center of the crowd, generally closer to the stage, in an area called the "mosh pit." It is intended to be energetic and full of body contact.
While moshing can be seen as a form of positive fan feedback or enjoyment, it has received criticism over dangerous excesses in its violence. Injuries and even deaths have also been reported in the crush of mosh pits.
Injured at a Concert?
There's always a reason when unfortunate accidents involving crowd surges or mosh pits result in injuries and death. Poor crowd management, inadequate security, and the negligence of venues and promoters typically cause the circumstances that lead to these injuries. The victims of crowd surge and mosh pit accidents and their families deserve justice.
If you or a family member were injured in a crowd surge or mosh pit accident at a concert or music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, you might have grounds to file a personal injury claim against the responsible venue, artist, security company, and promoters. Cohan PLLC can help. Our experienced Event Accident Attorneys can help you understand your rights and aid you in filing a personal injury claim against those responsible. With catastrophic injuries or death, you need the best local Las Vegas personal injury attorney to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve!
