Texas Accident & Injury News
Stunts can end tragically if something goes wrong.
Pregame Ceremony Ends in Tragedy After Airman Dies Falling During a Rappelling Stunt
According to a KSAT News report, an airman tragically lost his life while performing during a pregame ceremony honoring veterans and service members at the Alamodome.¹
The accident happened just before 7 p.m. Saturday, October 17th, during a pregame ceremony featuring four military service members for UTSA’s Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans night. The ceremony took place before the Roadrunners played Navy at San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson was a Tactical Air Control Party instructor assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, at Joint Base San Antonio. He suffered a fatal fall while rappelling during the ceremony.
Members of the UTSA staff surrounded him as first responders worked to save his life. Air Force officials confirmed the following morning that he had died.
The American Athletic Conference and UT San Antonio are offering support services to students and employees affected by the accident. The conference is also working with the Alamodome and local authorities to review what happened.
Nellis Air Force Base confirmed that the incident is under investigation.
“This tragedy is felt deeply across the 57th Wing,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott C. Mills, 57th Wing commander, in the release. “Tech. Sgt. Patterson and his service mattered immensely to our wing, and to the family, friends, and teammates who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him. Our team is now focused on standing beside Ian’s family, loved ones, and fellow Airmen as we navigate this profound loss together.”²
Did You Know?
A study published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology reported that research involving stunt performers has found a lifetime head-injury prevalence ranging from 80% to 100% among the performers studied.³
Can You Sue If You’re Injured Performing Stunts in Texas?
Stunt performances can be thrilling to watch, but they require careful planning, specialized equipment, training, and extensive safety precautions.
Whether someone is rappelling during a live event, performing a dangerous movie scene, or participating in another professional stunt, even a small equipment failure or safety mistake can have devastating consequences.
When a civilian stunt performer is seriously injured or killed, the question of legal responsibility often depends on who organized the stunt, what caused the accident, and whether reasonable safety precautions were taken.
The information below applies generally to civilian performers. Active-duty military service members are subject to different federal rules and restrictions and should consult military legal assistance or an attorney experienced in military-related injury claims about their specific situation.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Stunt-Related Injury?
Performers accept certain risks when participating in dangerous activities. However, that doesn’t mean everyone involved in organizing a stunt is automatically protected from liability.
Depending on the circumstances, several parties could potentially share responsibility.
For example:
- Event organizers may be responsible if negligent planning or unsafe procedures contributed to the accident.
- Equipment manufacturers may face liability if defective harnesses, ropes, rigging, or other safety equipment failed.
- Contractors and equipment providers may be responsible for negligent installation, maintenance, or inspection.
- Other participants or crew members may share responsibility if careless actions caused the performer to be injured.
Determining liability requires looking closely at what happened before and during the stunt.
An accident by itself does not establish negligence, and the cause of Tech. Sgt. Patterson’s fall has not yet been determined.
Accepting a Dangerous Stunt Does Not Mean Accepting Every Risk
Someone who agrees to perform a stunt obviously understands that the activity carries some danger.
But there is an important difference between accepting the normal risks of a stunt and being injured because someone else failed to take reasonable safety precautions.
For example, a professional rappeller may understand that working at height carries a risk of falling. That does not mean they accepted the risk of defective equipment, improperly installed rigging, or negligent safety procedures.
The specific facts, any agreements between the parties, and the circumstances surrounding the performance all matter when determining whether a claim is available.
What If the Performer Was Working?
Many stunt performers are injured while doing their jobs.
Depending on the person’s employment status and available coverage, a workplace injury may involve workers’ compensation or another occupational injury benefit.
But workers’ compensation is not always the only possibility.
A separate personal injury claim may sometimes be available when a third party contributed to the accident.
For example, suppose a performer is injured because an outside equipment company supplied a defective harness or negligently installed a rigging system. Even if the performer receives workers’ compensation benefits through an employer, the outside company could potentially face a separate claim if its negligence caused the accident.
An attorney can examine the employment relationship, insurance coverage, and the parties involved to determine which options may apply.
Equipment Failure Can Lead to a Product or Negligence Claim
For many stunts, safety depends heavily on equipment working exactly as intended.
Rappelling and aerial performances may involve:
- Harnesses
- Ropes
- Carabiners
- Anchors
- Rigging systems
- Belay equipment
- Platforms or support structures
If one of those components fails, investigators need to determine why.
A product may have been defectively designed or manufactured. Equipment may have been installed incorrectly, inadequately inspected, poorly maintained, or used outside its intended specifications.
If one of those failures caused the injury, the manufacturer, equipment provider, contractor, or another responsible party could potentially be liable.
Safety Planning Matters Before the Performance Begins
A serious stunt accident may be caused by a decision made long before the performer begins.
Organizers and contractors may need to consider the environment, equipment, weather, height, landing areas, emergency procedures, performer experience, and potential consequences if something goes wrong.
Depending on the stunt, an investigation may examine:
- Safety plans
- Equipment inspection records
- Training and rehearsal procedures
- Rigging and installation records
- Communications between organizers and performers
- Weather or environmental conditions
- Emergency response procedures
These records can help establish whether reasonable precautions were taken before the performance began.
Why an Independent Investigation Matters
After a serious stunt accident, understanding exactly what went wrong is essential.
An investigation may involve video of the performance, witness statements, equipment inspections, training records, safety procedures, and expert examination of the equipment or rigging.
Some of that evidence can change or disappear quickly. Equipment may be moved, repaired, or returned to a vendor, while video footage may be overwritten.
For civilian performers and their families, an experienced personal injury attorney can help preserve that evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and determine whether a personal injury or wrongful death claim may be available.
Injured in a Stunt or Performance Accident? Call Shaw.
Stunt and performance accidents can involve complicated questions about equipment, workplace relationships, contractors, safety procedures, and multiple potentially responsible parties.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured during a stunt, performance, or other dangerous activity because of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Ongoing Medical Treatment
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
- Pain and Suffering
- Rehabilitation
- Wrongful Death Damages, When Applicable
- And More
An experienced attorney can investigate what happened, preserve evidence, identify the responsible parties, and help determine which insurance coverage or legal claims may apply.
We’ll help you find out for free.
Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 to schedule a case evaluation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Texas. There are no fees, no obligations, and no pressure—just straightforward legal guidance when you need it most.
We look forward to serving you.