Injured In A Movie Set Accidents?
Filming doesn’t just happen in Hollywood anymore. These days almost every major North American city has at least one major television show or movie that is shooting on location. While the buzz of a movie shoot can energize a town and boost the local economy, a movie set can also bring hazards.
Common Types of Movie Set Accidents
Depending on the movie, the set pieces may be intricate. Some sets involve speeding cars and falling debris. The more intense the special effects, the more dangerous the set can get. Here are some common types of movie set accidents:
- Car accidents
- Crush injuries
- Drowning
- Falls from scaffolding
- Trips and falls from off-camera clutter
- Falling equipment or props
- Tangled in heavy machinery or equipment
Most movie set accidents are caused by human error. Sometimes proper safety protocols are not followed. Sometimes the crew is not properly trained or supervised. Other times, the crew may be careless with the use and maintenance of the equipment and props.
Common Types of Injuries in Movie Set Accidents
Because every movie set is different, there are a wide variety of different types of injuries that can occur on a movie set. Here are a few of the most common types of injuries in movie set accidents:
- Dehydration
- Hypothermia
- Neck and back injuries
- Sprained ankles or pulled muscles
- Torn or ripped tendons, ligaments, or muscles
- Traumatic head injuries
- Drowning
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured bone
- Lacerations
- Burns
Almost every movie set will have medical personnel on standby. After you have been injured in a movie set accident your first priority is your health. Even if you do not need immediate treatment, you should still consult with your doctor within a few days of the movie set accident. This will help make sure you get the treatment you need and that any hidden injuries are discovered.
The sooner you see a doctor the better it will be if you need to make a claim for your injuries. You should also tell your doctor that your accident happened on the set of a movie. This may be required if you are covered by worker’s compensation.
Are You Covered by Worker’s Compensation?
Worker’s compensation was designed to protect employees who are hurt on the job from having to prove their employer was at fault. The rules for worker’s compensation differ significantly from state to state. In many places most of the people of the set will not be covered by worker’s compensation.
However, you will not know for sure until you consult with an experienced lawyer. The claims process for worker’s compensation and other types of injuries are very different. If you have a worker’s compensation injury you will need to report the injury to your employer as soon as possible or risk losing your right to recover anything.
Is the Movie Insured?
All major movies and television shows carry liability insurance. If a worker’s compensation law does not cover you, you may be able to file a claim against the production’s liability insurance.
However, to bring a successful claim you will have to establish that someone connected with the production was negligent and that the negligence caused your injuries.
This can be difficult to do on your own because there are so many people involved behind the scenes and many of them only work for a few days on the picture. Getting a lawyer involved will help you track down the information you need to make a successful claim for the injuries you suffered because of someone else’s negligence.
What If You Were Just Watching?
Not all movie set accidents happen to people involved in the movie process. Especially in major cities, there can be a lot of bystanders just watching the filming. If you were passing by or observing the action on the movie set and were hurt in an accident, you may also have a right to be compensated for your injuries.
Once again, you will have to prove that someone was negligent and that the negligence caused your injuries.
Most of the time the production company behind the movie shoot will not be cooperative when you try and make a claim.
Assumption of the Risk and Movie Set Accidents
Shooting a movie can be a dangerous business. One of the major defenses that insurance companies love to use when denying a claim is that the injured person knew there was a risk and got involved in the movie anyway. This is called assumption of the risk.
Even if you did assume some element of risk to work on or visit a move set does not mean that you cannot recover something for your injuries. It will depend on your situation and the laws of the state where the accident happened.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. We can help you find the right lawyer to handle your claims. Don’t delay. Time is of the essence in personal injury claims. Contact us today so we can help you find a personal injury lawyer with a successful track record bringing movie set accident cases.
