Who is Liable if a Guest Gets Hurt at Your Wedding?

Your wedding day is one of the most important and memorable days of your life. Not only is it a celebration of your love for one another, but it’s a day when all of your closest friends and family members come together all at once.

So, imagine how terrible it would be if one of your treasured guests were hurt or injured. That’s why it’s SUPER important that you and your spouse make it a priority to get wedding insurance.

Wedding insurance policies vary, but they will protect you if something is damaged at your location, a guest is injured and even liquor liability coverage for alcohol-related injuries. The most common questions a bride and groom ask about an injury is:

• What should a guest do if they are injured at our wedding?
• Who is liable if a guest gets hurt?
• Who is liable for intoxicated guests?

We’ll break down each of these questions, so everyone involved knows what to expect if an injury were to happen.

What should a guest do if they are injured at our wedding?

According to personal injury lawyers, Schultz & Myers, a slip and fall incident is one of the most common injuries that happen at a wedding. If you do get hurt at a wedding, you should file a legal claim immediately to cover the costs that come along with it. The sooner you file the claim, the sooner you can be compensated.

In order to file a proper claim, here are the steps you should take:

• Take photos of your injuries, the area of the venue or home where the incident happened and ask for security footage, if possible.
• File an incident report with the wedding venue and interview eyewitnesses for their statement and testimony.
• If you’re seriously injured, go to the doctor or hospital. Your injury may worsen with time if you wait to seek medical attention.
• Make copies of your medical records, charts, X-rays and medical bills.
• Hire a legal expert to litigate your claim.

Who is liable if a guest gets hurt?

Many guests who are injured at a wedding are concerned about filing a claim against the bride and groom. It’s more likely that the claim will be filed against the venue or a vendor, not the bride and groom.

That’s why it’s also important to ask about your venue’s insurance policy and be on the lookout for any hazards or concerns before booking your wedding date. Ask the same of your vendors in case their equipment is the cause of a slip or fall.

At-home weddings are more popular than ever, due to COVID-19. Homeowners may be liable for injured guests if the injury was due to the homeowner’s negligence or if their insurance is insufficient.

Types of incidents, whether at a wedding venue or a home, include tripping hazards, loose sidewalks or cracked cement outside, loose or messy flooring inside, poor lighting, plants or fences that affect visibility.

If a venue or homeowner is liable, their insurance would cover the claim. This means they’re responsible for paying the injured person’s medical bills, rehab costs, lost wages, emotional trauma support or any court costs.

Again, hiring a personal injury attorney is the best way to make sure you’re properly compensated and can answer any additional questions you have.

Who is liable for intoxicated guests?

We cannot stress this enough to brides and grooms—consider liquor liability coverage. If you’re serving alcohol at your wedding, you could be liable for any alcohol-related accidents or injuries.

The wedding venue or even your wedding planner could also be held liable, since they’re in charge of monitoring every aspect of your wedding day to ensure a safe and secure environment. Most venues require an on-duty police officer to be present during the entirety of the reception, to ensure that intoxicated guests are not getting behind the wheel.

Hopefully nothing this severe will happen on your big day, but it’s good to be informed, do your homework and know what to expect if something goes wrong.