Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, known for its dazzling galas, celebrity premieres, award shows, and high-profile corporate events. At the center of these moments? The red carpet. But while red carpets are designed to project glamour, they can conceal hazards that lead to painful and sometimes serious injuries.
If you’ve tripped and fallen at a Vegas event due to an uneven carpet edge, poorly placed stanchion, exposed cable, or overcrowded space, you may be wondering who is responsible—and whether you have a legal case. The truth is, temporary event setups, while visually impressive, can often violate safety standards. And when they do, injured guests have rights under Nevada premises liability law.
Led by Preston Rezaee, Esq., The Firm is a premier personal injury law practice in Las Vegas, dedicated to delivering justice for accident victims. With a reputation for relentless advocacy and client-focused representation, The Firm ensures injured individuals receive the compensation they deserve.
Why Red Carpet Events Can Be Risky
Red carpets, velvet ropes, temporary stages, lighting rigs, and backdrops are often installed quickly and dismantled within hours. While the goal is to create a seamless experience, the rushed nature of setup and takedown—combined with large crowds and media chaos—often leads to oversight in basic safety precautions.
Common injury-causing conditions at these events include:
- Lifted carpet edges or wrinkles
- Insecure or toppled stanchions
- Electrical cords and camera cables on walkways
- Slick flooring beneath or around the carpet
- Dim or flashing lighting obscuring visibility
- Tightly packed crowds with no visible pathways
- Unstable temporary structures or signage
When these hazards aren’t properly managed, the results can range from twisted ankles to traumatic brain injuries.
Real-World Red Carpet Injury Scenarios
Let’s look at a few common ways these setups can go wrong:
🎬 Premiere Night Misstep
A guest attending a celebrity movie premiere at a Strip casino stumbles over a raised edge of the red carpet that had curled up near the entrance. The fall results in a broken wrist and sprained ankle.
🧍♂️ Velvet Rope Tumble
At a nightclub’s red carpet event, a woman gets her heel caught in the base of a velvet rope stanchion that wasn’t properly weighted. She falls backward and strikes her head on a concrete surface.
🎤 Corporate Gala Cable Trip
At a tech convention’s afterparty, a red carpet leads to a branded photo wall. A media attendee trips over a power cable hidden beneath the carpet, suffering a back injury.
These are not isolated incidents. Red carpet and temporary event setup injuries happen more often than many realize—and they can result in expensive hospital visits, missed work, or even permanent disability.
Who’s Liable When You’re Injured at a Vegas Event?
Determining liability after a red carpet accident can be complex, but here are the key parties who may be held responsible under Nevada law:
1. The Property Owner or Venue
Whether the event is hosted in a casino ballroom, rooftop club, or convention space, the property owner has a duty to ensure that all areas accessible to guests are reasonably safe and hazard-free. This includes walkways, entrances, and carpeted areas.
If the venue knew—or should have known—about a hazard like a frayed carpet or hidden cord and failed to fix it or warn guests, they may be liable under premises liability laws.
2. The Event Organizer or Promoter
If a private company, PR agency, or event host was in charge of the carpet layout, decor, and traffic flow, they may be partially or fully responsible for any unsafe conditions. Their contracts may include liability for guest safety.
3. Third-Party Vendors and Setup Crews
Often, red carpet elements are provided by vendors who specialize in event rentals, lighting, or set design. If a third-party vendor installed unstable stanchions or ran cords across walkways without proper covering, they could share in the liability.
4. Security or Event Staff
Event staff are responsible for monitoring crowd flow, removing obstructions, and addressing hazards in real time. If they failed to react or warn guests, this could also factor into a liability case.
Nevada Law on Premises Liability and Temporary Hazards
Under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 41.130, anyone who suffers an injury due to the negligence of another person or business may pursue compensation for damages. To establish liability in a red carpet injury case, the injured party must prove:
- A duty of care was owed to the guest.
- That duty was breached due to negligence or unsafe conditions.
- The breach directly caused the injury.
- The injury resulted in damages (medical costs, lost wages, etc.)
Red carpets are not exempt from safety expectations. Temporary doesn’t mean careless.
What to Do If You’ve Been Injured at a Vegas Event
If you were hurt due to a fall, trip, or other hazard on or around a red carpet event setup in Las Vegas, take these steps immediately:
- Report the incident to the venue or event organizer. Ensure there is an official record.
- Take photos or video of the hazard, your injuries, and the surrounding area.
- Collect contact info from witnesses or other attendees who saw the fall.
- Seek medical attention promptly—even if symptoms seem minor.
- Avoid giving statements to insurance or event reps without legal counsel.
- Contact The Firm—we’ll help you determine if you have a claim.
What Compensation Could You Be Entitled To?
If your injury was caused by negligence, you may be eligible for compensation including:
- Emergency medical bills
- Ongoing treatment or physical therapy
- Lost income from missed work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress or PTSD from public embarrassment
- Long-term disability or impairment
Event hosts often carry insurance policies specifically for liability coverage—our job is to make sure they honor their responsibility and cover your losses.
Visitors and Out-of-State Guests: You Still Have Rights
Many red carpet accidents happen to out-of-town guests who fly in for premieres, festivals, or conventions. Just because you don’t live in Nevada doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim here. The Firm represents tourists and event attendees from all over the world, making the legal process seamless no matter where you’re from.
Why The Firm Is Your Best Advocate
Preston Rezaee, Esq. and the team at The Firm have extensive experience handling complex premises liability claims—including those involving temporary setups, vendor negligence, and major Las Vegas venues. We’ll investigate every element of your incident, gather evidence before it disappears, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
If you were injured by a red carpet or event hazard, let us take the stress out of the legal process so you can focus on healing.
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