Music festivals, holiday festivities, and parties are all excellent ways to unwind and celebrate with loved ones, but they can also have tragic consequences. These events attract large crowds, many of whom may be drunk, and often disrupt local traffic, which can lead to confusion among motorists and attendees.
Several tragic accidents have underscored the frightening trend of festival transportation accidents, both from professional transit providers and everyday drivers. Today, we’ll explore some of the most devastating crashes that have occurred after festivals and other events, then delve into your legal rights as a crash victim.
Drunk Driving Is a Constant Concern After Parties and Festivals
In 2023, off-duty Chicago police officer Tangie Brown struck and killed 56-year-old Maria Schwab while leaving a city-approved holiday party. Brown was visibly impaired but was still served drinks at the Tree House bar in the city’s River North neighborhood.
Chicago Police Department officers are forbidden from consuming excessive alcohol, but no one stopped Brown, nor did they prevent her from getting in her car while leaving the party. She jumped the curb and collided with Schwab, a Texas resident in Chicago for work. One woman who was with Schwab was also injured, but Brown did not offer assistance to either woman.
In November 2024, Schwab’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Chicago, the Chicago Police Department, the Tree House bar, and Tangie Brown. The suit alleges that the city and the CPD were liable as Brown was at a city-sanctioned holiday party and, therefore, acted in the course of her duties as a police officer.
Rideshare Accidents May Occur After Late-Night Music Festivals
Many people use rideshares to get home after festivals, as taxis may be difficult to find in the early hours of the morning. However, an Uber or Lyft ride can still result in tragedy if other drivers aren’t careful.
In March 2024, Morgan Ehrenbeit, her boyfriend Michael Rosenbaum, and Luke Stempuzis were leaving an Excision concert in Buffalo, New York, around midnight. They hailed a rideshare driven by Nasir Musazada and were heading home when the car was suddenly struck by a speeding vehicle with no headlights.
Ehrenbeit and the rideshare driver, Musazada, were both killed, while Rosenbaum was left with non-life-threatening injuries. Stempuzis suffered critical injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, kidney damage, and a ruptured spleen. Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma to recover.
The at-fault driver was Devin Ford, who did not have a driver’s license or car insurance. He was charged with felony manslaughter and felony assault in addition to multiple driving infractions, including driving without headlights, speeding, and operating without a license.
Even Police Officers Can Cause Injuries at Festivals
While police are tasked with safety at major events, they can also cause life-threatening disruptions when they fail to maintain control of their vehicles, as one incident from a Palm Springs festival shows.
A police officer on a motorcycle slammed into a crowd of eager children and adults watching the Festival of Lights Parade on a Saturday evening in December 2024. Ten people were injured, including one child and two senior citizens, and were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Videos from the Palm Springs festival show officers “popping the clutch” on their motorcycles, which is often used to perform wheelies or accelerate at high speeds. Palm Springs authorities responded to the reports that Sunday by stating that the California Highway Patrol would be conducting an investigation. However, further details about their inspections have not yet been made available.
Celebrities and Musicians Are Not Safe from Transportation Crashes
While the Palm Springs festival accident harmed innocent bystanders, performers themselves are not immune to serious injuries or death from transportation accidents. In March 2019, Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading of the Liverpool, England, pop band Her’s, along with their manager Trevor Engelbrektson, were killed while driving to Santa Ana, California, for one of the last stops on their 19-stop concert tour.
The crash happened outside Phoenix, Arizona, in the early hours of the morning when a wrong-way driver collided with their Ford van on the highway. The pop duo had recently played the famous South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, with a stirring acoustic performance and were set to finish a successful tour.
There were no survivors, making it difficult to determine how the crash occurred. However, police who inspected the scene found there was no evidence that either vehicle braked before the impact, and there was an empty alcoholic beverage can found near the debris field.
Sadly, these types of accidents are not uncommon in the music world, and they are likely to continue as long as musicians are expected to play multi-stop tours across the United States. Long drives, fatigue, and alcohol consumption can all contribute to these incidents.
What Are the Legal Consequences of Festival Transportation Accidents?
The tragic accidents detailed above make it clear that parades, parties, and festivals all have their dark sides. Whether that’s police driving motorcycles into the crowd at the Festival of Lights Parade in Palm Springs or unlicensed drivers killing concert attendees, it’s important to understand who may be liable when an accident occurs before or after a special event.
Potentially Liable Parties
Every festival car accident is different, so the liable parties may change. For example, the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department were sued after an off-duty officer killed a pedestrian, as she was considered to be acting in the scope of her duties at a city-approved party.
Parties that could be held accountable include the following.
Individual Drivers
Whoever was in control of the responsible vehicle will be the first person considered when determining liability.
Transportation Companies
If the accident happened in a commercial vehicle, like a party bus or taxi, the company needs liability insurance to cover any accidents. This gets more complicated with rideshares, as the drivers are independent contractors. However, a competent attorney can review the circumstances and determine whether the company itself was responsible.
Event Organizers
Whether it’s a parade or a concert, event organizers are required to protect attendees as much as possible. For example, if they hadn’t blocked off the roads and someone drove into the crowd, they could be held accountable.
Car Manufacturers
Sometimes, the car itself malfunctions during a crash, leading to injuries or death. If you were injured when an airbag failed to deflate, the manufacturer can be held accountable.
Government Organizations
At the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, the California Highway Patrol and Palm Springs Police Department could both be held accountable for failing to protect individuals and allowing officers to act recklessly with their motorcycles.
Civil Versus Criminal Charges
For most accidents, people immediately consider criminal charges, especially if the incident occurred due to reckless driving or other dangerous behaviors. However, victims can also pursue civil charges, like a personal injury lawsuit.
These cases provide compensation for damages caused by the crash, such as hospital visits, medical treatment, and out-of-pocket expenses. Generally, a civil lawsuit can be pursued concurrently with a criminal charge, as they are two separate cases related to the same accident.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer to Fight for Your Rights
If you’ve been harmed in a vehicular accident after a festival, you need to get a car accident lawyer to help you navigate the complex legal system. These professionals help minimize the disruption to your life by handling the administrative tasks associated with making an insurance claim or filing a lawsuit.
Attorneys Can Thoroughly Investigate the Crash
The lawyer will review reports about the accident, interview witnesses, and get expert opinions from professionals who can shed further light on the accident. They can also determine liability and identify how much your case may be worth based on your injuries.
Your Lawyer Will Negotiate With Insurance
When you’re injured, the last thing you want to do is deal with insurance claims. Thankfully, lawyers can speak to the company on your behalf and negotiate a good settlement. They’ll use the evidence gathered to prove why you deserve more, refusing to let the company settle for less.
The Law Firm Will Pursue a Civil Case if Necessary
While many accident claims are settled out of court, it’s sometimes necessary to get the court system involved. If the insurance company refuses to provide a fair settlement, then the law firm will file a lawsuit and guide you through the legal process.
Always Exercise Caution When Attending Festivals
Safety is essential when attending large events. Drunk drivers, reckless motorcyclists, and wrong-way accidents are common concerns after festivals, especially when heading home at a late hour.
In addition to general measures like staying with your group and keeping an eye out for unsavory people, be careful when heading home after the fun’s over so that your exciting event doesn’t turn into a terrible tragedy.
