I Fell at Madison Square Gardens. What Should I Do Next?

You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses if you fell at Madison Square Gardens. However, this will depend on the steps you take after the incident. Here is everything you need to know.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Seeking immediate medical attention is the first and most important thing you must do before taking further steps. No matter the circumstances, your health and well-being should always be the top priority in such situations. 

Immediately after an accident at MSG, you may not be aware of the full extent of your injuries. This can be risky since some injuries may not be immediately visible. Take, for example, internal bleeding. This kind of injury can cause serious damage to your body (internally), and by the time doctors get to find out what happened, it might be too late.

The sooner you get checked by a medical professional, the faster you will be able to receive the appropriate treatment. Getting prompt treatment also promotes faster healing. On the contrary, ignoring or delaying medical care may worsen your condition. And from a legal standpoint, no liable party, including MSG, will want to compensate you if you did not take the necessary steps to seek treatment within a reasonable time, usually no later than 72 hours after the accident. 

When you seek medical attention, the healthcare professional that examined your injuries will create an official record of these injuries and the subsequent treatment you received. This documentation could play a significant role in future legal proceedings or when you file a claim with Madison Square Garden or any other liable party. Without this documentation, the party responsible for your injuries could easily claim that you were injured elsewhere. 

Let the Appropriate Personnel Know You Got Injured

One of the key questions that could potentially pop up when you get injured at Madison Square Garden is: who did you report the incident to? Depending on how the accident occurred and the kind of injuries you sustained, the answer to this question could make or break your case. 

Remember, MSG or any other party responsible for your injuries will want to deny liability. The chances of denial will increase if gaps exist in your version of events.

By reporting the accident, you create an official record of what happened and avoid unnecessary gaps that could raise doubts about the validity of your claim. 

So to whom exactly should you report the accident? Generally, you should report it to the appropriate personnel within the venue. It could be the security staff, event organizers, or management personnel. If you are unsure who to contact, you can ask for assistance from any staff member at the venue.

Gather As Much Evidence As You Can, If Possible

Before we even look at the kind of evidence you may need to support your case, it is important to understand why exactly this step is critical. 

To begin with, the evidence you gather after getting injured at Madison Square Garden can help establish a clear and accurate account of what happened during the incident. It will likely reveal the details surrounding the accident. 

When you have solid evidence, you can provide a reliable and consistent narrative of the events that occurred. The last thing you want is to give conflicting narratives further down the road when seeking compensation for your injuries or losses. 

Also, keep in mind that for any legal proceedings or insurance claims, you'll need evidence to support your version of events. A lack of evidence gives the other party a chance to deny liability. The management at MSG, in particular, has proven that they can make it difficult for claimants to seek compensation for injuries sustained at the famous arena. 

That explains why they recently banned attorneys suing them, including those not involved in litigation, from accessing their venues. Think about it this way: If MCG Entertainment, the company that owns the arena, can ban injury lawyers from their venue, what would they do to you, an innocent visitor? That shows you just how important it is to gather evidence, but only if circumstances allow. 

The evidence you collect can also help in determining liability for the incident. And, in some cases, more than one party may be responsible. For example, if the accident occurred due to inadequate security, the event organizer may be held responsible. Similarly, if you slipped and fell anywhere within the building due to dim lighting, wet flooring, torn carpeting, or other similar factors, you may be able to hold the management accountable.

Certain types of evidence can help assess the damages you have suffered as a result of the incident. For example, your medical records and bills will paint a comprehensive picture of the impact the incident has had on your physical, emotional, and financial well-being.

Contact a Premises Liability Attorney for a Case Evaluation

Cases involving injuries sustained at Madison Square Garden usually fall under the umbrella of premises liability. For this reason, you should contact an attorney who specializes in premises liability cases. Luckily for you, you're in the right place.

At Morgan and Morgan, our premises liability attorneys deeply understand specific laws and regulations that govern accidents and injuries that occur on someone else's property in New York City. They also know how challenging it can be for the injured to establish liability and negligence, given that in such cases, plaintiffs carry the burden of proof. 

In other words, getting injured at Madison Square Gardens does not automatically guarantee compensation for your injuries. Bear in mind that MSG is owned by powerful individuals with access to top defense attorneys to challenge your claim. This can make proving liability particularly difficult, especially without legal representation. 

When you contact us about the case, we will evaluate the circumstances surrounding your injury for free. This is the only way we will be able to determine the viability of your claim. 

Once we determine that you have a viable case and you choose to hire our premises liability attorneys to represent you, we will advise you on the potential legal options available to you.