It is still unclear what caused a man to fall 65 feet to his death at Turner Field during a recent game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. Police investigating the death said that he was alone before his fall from the upper level of the stadium. The investigation may help the family determine if they wish to pursue a wrongful death case.
Four witnesses claimed to see the man fall during a rain delay in the game. Police say they all claimed there were no other people around the man at the time of the accident. Police also say there is no video surveillance of the area where the man fell. The fall appears to be accidental, according to the preliminary findings. Investigators are awaiting the results of a toxicology test to determine if alcohol may have played a role.
The man’s family says that he went to area to smoke, and they believe he may have slipped on the wet pavement in the area. The man was six feet, six inches tall, and the guard rail along where he fell was 42 inches high. That meets both state code and industry standard. The Braves have extended condolences to the family.
While it seems like the cause of this accident is unclear, it still may be at least partially to blame on the Braves or those who run Turner Field. Wrongful death cases involving premises liabilty are often complex and can be very confusing to those involved. However, the family in this case may want to consider a lawsuit as an option. An attorney may be able to help them determine how strong of a case they have and how much compensation they should seek.
Source: CNN, “Man dies after 65-foot fall at Turner Field during Braves-Phillies game“, Ed Payne and Dave Alsup, August 13, 2013