Brain Injury Attorney Blog

Over the weekend, at the Indiana State Fair, folks were preparing to attend a Sugarland concert in Indiana. Concert-goers and other witnesses said an announcer warned them of impending bad weather but gave conflicting accounts of whether emergency sirens at the fair sounded. Some fair workers said they never heard any warnings. The gusting winds tore the fabric from the wobbling stage. As the winds kept blowing, gusts as strong as 70 mph, the huge rigging and lighting system that covered the stage fell forward onto the front of the crowd. Families of the victims may benefit from a consultation with a good wrongful death lawyer.

Five people were killed and dozens, including children, remain in the hospital. Some of the victims have life-threatening injuries. The fair ended up cancelling all activities on Sunday to determine exactly what happened. Officials also must figure out whether the tragedy could have been prevented. First Sgt. Dave Bursten of the Indiana State Police said the lack of damage to structures surrounding the stage supported the weather service's belief that an isolated, significant wind gust caused the rigging to topple. Bursten identified those killed as Alina Bigjohny, 23; Christina Santiago, 29; Tammy Vandam, 42; and two Indianapolis residents: 49-year-old Glenn Goodrich and 51-year-old Nathan Byrd. Byrd, a stagehand who was atop the rigging when it fell, died overnight. Sunday's accident was the worst at the Indiana fairgrounds since a 1963 explosion at the fairgrounds coliseum killed 74 people attending an ice skating show.

This tragedy has forced investigators to not only check for signs of structural problems with the stage, but review whether fair and state officials acted fast enough in letting fans know of the severe thunderstorm watch that was issued hours before the concert. The builders of the stage and fair representatives may have to begin preparing for wrongful death suits brought against them. It is sad that these five people tried to attend a concert to have fun and ended up getting fatally injured. Their families may be eligible for compensation. They will need to call a reliable wrongful death lawyer in their area for help with their case.

Every state has a limit on the amount of time a person has to file a wrongful death lawsuit in court. The length of time can vary, from one year to as long as three years. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. If you do not file your wrongful death action on time, you will be barred from filing it all together. Sometimes the time runs from the wrongful death itself, but sometimes it runs from the time that the cause of death was discovered (which could be later). In some states, the statute of limitations for wrongful death becomes even more complicated if the deceased doesn’t die right away. If the deceased is injured and has a claim for personal injury, the deceased usually must comply with his or her state’s statute of limitations for personal injury.

If you or someone you know would like to speak with a wrongful death lawyer about a wrongful death claim, call one of the experienced wrongful death lawyers at The Mace Firm for a free consultation. Our wrongful death lawyers are ready to speak with you about your claim today.

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