Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers, unfortunately, have more devastating news to announce concerning the Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse Accident. Indiana State Police now say a 7th person will die imminently from injuries sustained from the Sugarland Concert Accident. The Marion County Coroner's Office identified this victim as 24 year old Meagan Toothman from Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a cheerleading coach at a local Cincinnati high school. Earlier today, the Indiana State Police announced Toothman's death but later retracted it. Officials said she is on life support so her organs can be harvested.

The initial six fatal victims of August 13th's Concert Accident are Jenny Haskell, Tammy Vandam, Alina Bigjohnny, Christina Santiago, Nathan Byrd and Glenn Goodrich. Both Byrd and Goodrich were apparently working at the time of the stage collapse. However, it is not yet confirmed if Indiana Work Comp issues will come into play. Indiana Workers Compensation deals with injuries or deaths that occur to workers while they are on the job. Experienced Indianapolis Work Comp Lawyers can help victims and their families determine if they are entitled to worker's compensation benefits. Thus, it's important for victims to seek out legal representation to help guide them through the legal process.

However, many victims and their families are, understandably, still dealing with the initial physical and emotional impact of the Sugarland Concert Accident. Immediately following the stage collapse, more than 40 people were hurt and sought treatment at local Indianapolis hospitals. Now, more than a week later, reports are more than ten victims are still in hospitals, and some apparently have severe injuries.

As for who is responsible for the Main Grandstand stage rigging collapse, many investigators are looking into this. You'll recall strong winds estimated at about 70 mph blew through the Indiana State Fairgrounds as the stage fell. The winds followed a severe thunderstorm warning for Marion County. Fair officials have admitted the rigging structure was not inspected prior to the accident.

This tragedy is prompting some Indiana state officials and the Indiana State Fair Commission to consider building a permanent outdoor stage at the fairgrounds. Several other midwestern states like Iowa and Illinois have done this. Indiana State Representative David Niezgodski says Indiana should look into whatever is necessary to make the Indiana State Fair safer. He said officials and lawmakers will be examining several options to make the fair as safe as possible. Early estimates put the cost of building an outdoor permanent stage at $10 million.

Continue reading "7th FATAL VICTIM POSSIBLE IN INDIANA STATE FAIR STAGE COLLAPSE ACCIDENT" »

Officials with the Indiana State Fair hired an engineering firm out of New York to look into this past weekend's deadly Concert Accident. Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers at Crossen Kooi learned the firm's name is Thornton Thomasetti. A spokesperson with the Indiana State Fair Commission said the firm's discoveries and suggestions will be announced to the general public after the investigation is completed hopefully, by the end of this year. In the investigation into the Sugarland Concert Stage Collapse, engineers from Thornton Tomasetti will examine the debris as well as look over documents and interview officials with Mid-America Sound Corp. of Greenfield, Indiana. That company supplied the rigging which fell.

The firm, Thornton Thomasetti, is not new to investigations involving unprecedented collapses. Its employees looked into the World Trade Center collapse following the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, the company was also embroiled in the fraud controversy surrounding Marion County's Public Library. A jury did eventually clear the firm of wrongdoing.

As for the five fatal victims of the Concert Accident, funeral services are set for four of the deceased. At last check, Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers found more than 15 people who were hurt when the rigging fell were still hospitalized at local Indianapolis hospitals. Immediately after Saturday's accident, more than 40 people were sent to area hospitals with a range of injuries.

While it is extremely important that the victims of the Stage Collapse seek and receive the proper medical attention, it is also important that they and/or their families also look for the appropriate legal advice and representation. The Indiana State Fair as well as other entities could be found legally responsible for this tragic accident. In that case, the victims could be entitled to compensation for their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

For example, Indiana law states that when it comes to Personal Injuries or death on state property, each individual victim cannot receive more than $700,000. All the victims combined cannot receive more than $5 million. These so-called "tort claims" must be filed within 9 months of the accident. These details are described in Indiana Code 34-13-3-4.

Legal deadlines are important to be aware of to make sure Personal Injury victims receive all the compensation they deserve. In addition to the tort claim filing deadline, if victims wish to file a lawsuit against a private company like the company responsible for erecting the rigging, those victims must do so within 2 years. And claims against the city of Indianapolis or Marion County must be submitted within 180 days.

Continue reading "ENGINEERING FIRM HIRED TO INVESTIGATE DEADLY CONCERT STAGE COLLAPSE AT INDIANA STATE FAIR" »