The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of the biggest attractions in downtown Atlanta. The new stadium is the home of the Atlanta Falcons as well as the Atlanta United FC soccer team. It also serves as a multi-purpose venue for large events. While the addition of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is positive for the people of Atlanta, it’s also likely to be the site of occasional injuries and accidents. If you were injured at the Mercedes-Benz stadium, either as a fan or a worker, you have a right to a full financial recovery.
John Foy & Associates can help you. Our firm has been helping injury victims for over 20 years. We work exclusively for the victims, never the big insurance companies. We can help you file a claim to get the money you need for medical bills, missed work time and other costs. Let us give you a FREE consultation on your injury. Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.
What kinds of injuries at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium could count as a claim?
Any type of injury could have a valid claim if it was not your fault. We know from experience that the most common claims at a large venue come from:
- Fans or guests who are there for an event
- Employees who work at the stadium
- Construction workers building the stadium
No matter what kind of injury you’ve suffered, do not make the mistake of blaming yourself—or thinking there’s nothing you can do. The law says that if your injury was caused though the carelessness or negligence of another, you may be eligible for a full financial recovery. Even if there was no wrongdoing or intent to harm you, you could still be covered.
The best way to find out if you have a claim is to speak to a legal professional.
What kinds of injuries can happen to fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
As of this writing we are not aware of any reported injuries to guests or fans. However, as personal injury lawyers we know that large venues tend to have occasional accidents. These accidents can be the result of poor stadium design, bad maintenance, or because of small acts of carelessness. Some of the most common injuries at sports stadiums include:
- Slipping on spilled food or beverages
- Falling on stairs
- Being injured on faulty escalators
- Falling over guardrails from upper seating levels
Of these, falls are perhaps the most dangerous accidents we’ve seen. There have been recent cases of falls at other arenas and stadiums where the person who fell passed away from their injuries. In many cases the fall could have been prevented if railings were simply higher. It is almost never the fault of the person who fell.
If you or a loved one were injured in any way at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, we can investigate possible negligence. This could allow you to be awarded damages in the hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
Have workers been injured at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
Yes. If you have worked on the stadium site you’ve probably heard of Sonny Rogers, who was ordered to move a shoring tower that fell on him. What you may not have heard is the circumstances around the accident and exactly why the tower fell.
The shoring tower was 42 feet tall. Rogers and several other men were ordered to move it using a forklift. These work orders directly violated basic safety principles—the tower had been assembled from the ground up out of multiple pieces that are not meant to hold together during transport. In fact, the tower came with explicit directions saying that it must be disassembled in order to move it. That did not stop supervisors from order Rogers to move it anyway.
The job went terribly wrong. The tower collapsed, with pieces of it hitting Rogers and pinning him in place. He is now incapacitated and will be unable to work ever again. Rogers and the other workers had no way of knowing that moving the tower was dangerous, but their supervisors should have known—the contract they signed to use the tower specifically said to disassemble it before moving it.
Sonny Rogers has now filed a lawsuit seeking $4 million in damages, enough to cover his medical bills and provide for his family now that he cannot work.
How many workers have been injured working on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
We are currently investigating how many workers have been injured. The stadium is owned by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (WCAC) on behalf of the state. The WCAC has a strong incentive not to publicize accidents. However, during construction there were as many as 1,400 workers on site per day, even as the project slipped increasingly behind schedule. This creates the perfect conditions for construction accidents.
The most common types of accidents we see from sites like the Mercedes-Benz Stadium include:
- Falling accidents
- Being caught between or crushed by equipment
- Electrocution
- Being hit by a falling objected
Many of these accidents are completely preventible if safety regulations are followed and workers are given reasonable expectations and schedules. If you or anyone you love was injured working on the stadium, do not blame yourself for the accident. You may have a claim worth a substantial amount of money.
Can my claim be resolved through workers compensation?
In many cases, yes. Workers compensation is a system that was set up to protect workers in Georgia in the event of an on-the-job injury. The system is designed to cover up to 100% of your costs related to your injury, without having to go to court. But you should be careful. While workers comp is a good system overall, it has many limitations and weaknesses. Ultimately, your claim is being handled by and insurance company—and they care about their profit, not your best interests.
There are several tactics insurance companies can use to undermine your workers’ comp claim:
- Claiming that some or all of your injury happened off-premises or wasn’t related to work
- Calling you a liar or discrediting your version of events
- Recommending you to a doctor that you do not believe has your best interests at heart (a “company doctor”)
You have a right to seek legal counsel about your workers comp claim. A lawyer can help you level the playing field and get an independent, professional legal opinion on how to get your full claim paid out.
Do I need to sue anyone?
It depends.
If you are an injured worker, your claim could be resolved through workers compensation with no lawsuit. However, it might be to your benefit to consider a lawsuit against any third parties whose negligence contributed to your injury. But you will not have to sue your employer, nor can your employer hold your claim against you.
If you were injured as a fan or guest at the stadium, we will start your case by putting together the strongest claim possible and taking it to the insurance company. It’s possible that we can pressure them to give you a fair settlement with no lawsuit needed. If they refuse, however, we can pursue the matter to the courts. Often, even if a lawsuit is filed it never reaches the court—the insurance company will often pay you a settlement before it gets that far.
No matter how you were injured, the most important thing is to get a professional legal opinion immediately. There are legal deadlines for all injury claims, and if you wait too long you may lose your chance. Speak to a lawyer right away.
Talk to an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer for Free
At John Foy & Associates, we don’t think injured fans or workers should have to worry about legal bills. That’s why we offer a no-risk deal:
- Your consultation with us is always FREE
- You pay us nothing out of pocket—ever
- If we don’t win you money, you owe us nothing
If you or a loved one were hurt at Mercedes Benz Stadium, you are not alone. Let us help. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.