In September of 2012, several Cincinnati Bengals fans were sent to the hospital with injuries after an escalator malfunctioned at a Bengals-Redskins game in Prince George’s Country, Virginia.
The Washington football team – no longer called the Redskins as of 2021 – was hosting the Bengals in the home opener for the 2012 season, and the accident happened near the end of the game.
The escalator at FedEx Field malfunctioned, causing a pileup of football fans at the landing where the escalator let people off. Six people went to hospitals in Prince George’s County, and a total of 15 football fans were evaluated for their injuries.
Reports indicated that the escalator accelerated, and then stopped immediately, sending people falling down the stairs. At least four people were carried off on stretchers, and two were in neck braces.
The previous December, six Washington fans suffered injuries at FedEx Field in an escalator malfunction when trying to leave a game between the Redskins and the visiting New York Jets.
In the field of Cincinnati injury law, we are always remaining vigilant in looking for instances where innocent patrons are needing a legal defense.
Sporting events like football games are always potentially risky situations. Experts recommend moving carefully in large crowds, given the potential for danger in busy public places – particularly those with many different levels, such as an arena or a stadium.
Cincinnatians remember the Who concert tragedy of 1979. At Riverfront Coliseum, on December 3 of that year, a group of people were trampled to death in a stampede. 11 people died that day. This was in the era of “festival seating,” sometimes referred to disparagingly as “animal seating,” when concertgoers were not assigned seats.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
What can you do, as an attendee of a crowded event to stay safe?
Here are a few pieces of advice. Some may seem obvious, but nonetheless, are worthy of remembering.
- Do Not Run
You may be excited. Your team may have just won! But do not run at crowded sporting events. The possibilities for injury are much greater when you are dealing with sizable crowds of people
- Do Not Antagonize the Opposing Team’s Fans
Violence can break out at games. Not just hockey or football, either. Fistfights and worse have been known to erupt at baseball games as well. You may find it amusing to taunt fans of the other team, but it is smartest to not aggravate them.