Extension cords snake across floors at nearly every large gathering, such as in concerts, trade shows, conferences, and festivals. These temporary power sources keep the event running, but when left exposed or poorly secured, they turn into dangerous tripping hazards.
In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that about 4,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for extension cord-related injuries, with roughly half of those caused by trips and falls. Even a single misplaced cord can lead to fractures, sprains, or worse.
So, who is responsible when someone gets hurt tripping over an extension cord at a public event?
This article breaks down liability for extension cord accidents at public events, what evidence you need, how to pursue compensation, and the damages you may recover.
Property owners, event organizers, and contractors all owe a duty of care to guests. That duty includes keeping walkways safe and free from preventable hazards.
Extension cords create risks when they run across aisles without warning, lack protective coverings or tape, sit in dimly lit areas, or block natural pathways.
Any of these conditions can cause serious falls.
These cases typically fall under premises liability law, which holds property controllers accountable for maintaining safe conditions for visitors.
Determining the right defendant depends on who controlled the area where you fell and who created the hazard.
Venue owners must maintain safe conditions for people they invite onto their property. If cords were left in walkways without proper securing or warnings, the venue may be liable.
This applies whether the space is a convention center, outdoor festival ground, hotel ballroom, or sports arena.
Event planners coordinate layouts, manage vendors, and oversee guest safety. Negligence occurs when organizers fail to implement cord covers, ignore hazardous setups, or neglect proper crowd flow management.
If the event planner approved a dangerous configuration or overlooked vendor violations, they may share responsibility.
Vendors who set up booths, stages, or equipment often run their own extension cords. If they placed cords across aisles without securing them or adding protective coverings, they can be held liable.
For example, an audio-visual vendor that runs cords through a walking path without protection creates a foreseeable risk.
In some cases, utility providers or electrical contractors handle temporary wiring for events. If they installed cords improperly or failed to follow safety standards, they may bear responsibility.
These claims are more complex and require showing the provider controlled the setup and breached a duty of care.
Quick action protects both your health and your legal rights.
Visit a doctor or emergency room right away. Immediate treatment addresses injuries and creates medical documentation that ties your condition to the fall.
Notify venue staff, event organizers, or security as soon as possible. Make sure someone files an official report and ask for a copy.
Take photos of the cord, your injuries, the shoes you wore, and the surrounding area. Write down what happened while the details are fresh. Save the clothing and footwear you had on.
A lawyer can identify all liable parties, secure surveillance footage before it’s deleted, and handle negotiations with insurance companies. Many personal injury attorneys offer free consultations.
Successful claims can cover multiple types of harm, such as:
It’s common for businesses or insurance companies to try and shift part of the blame back onto you. They might say you weren’t paying attention, that the cords were “obvious,” or that you should have been more careful. These arguments are designed to reduce what they owe.
Most states use what’s called comparative fault, which means your compensation can be reduced if you’re found partly responsible for your fall. For example, if your case is valued at $100,000 but a jury decides you were 20% at fault, you’d receive $80,000 instead.
Every state sets a deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits, known as the statute of limitations. In most states, you have between one and three years from the date of your accident. If you miss that window, the court will likely dismiss your case, no matter how serious your injuries are.
If your accident happened on government property, the rules are even stricter. Many states require you to file a special notice of claim within just 90 to 180 days.
These deadlines can sneak up fast, which is why getting legal advice quickly is so important.
Extension cord cases can be complicated because several parties may be responsible. The venue owner, the event organizer, or even a vendor who ran the cords could all share liability.
Figuring out who had the duty to keep the area safe takes legal skill.
An attorney can step in to handle these challenges for you. They know how to deal with insurance companies that try to downplay your injuries or push for a low settlement. They can also send legal notices to preserve surveillance footage before it’s deleted and collect the records that show what really happened.
By having the right lawyer on your side, you increase your chances of holding the right parties accountable, meeting every deadline, and securing the compensation you deserve.
If you tripped over an extension cord at a public event, you may be facing medical bills, lost income, and ongoing pain that shouldn’t be your burden to carry. Thompson Law has the experience to identify who is legally responsible (whether it’s the venue, the event organizer, or a vendor) and pursue the compensation you deserve. Deadlines for filing these claims are short, so don’t wait.
Contact our team of personal injury lawyers today for a FREE CONSULTATION and let us fight for your recovery. We cover all areas of California, Georgia, Arizona, and Texas.
Thompson Law charges NO FEE unless we obtain a settlement for your case. We’ve put over $1.9 billion in cash settlements in our clients’ pockets. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident, get your questions answered, and understand your legal options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an injury accident, so call today.
