A tragic accident at a Cirque du Soleil performance in San Francisco has left the son of the company’s co-founder dead, after an accident barely an hour before a performance was scheduled to begin. The performance was canceled, and authorities are investigating factors that contributed to the accident, which is the first such accident the company has suffered in California.
Reports indicate that the man was killed when he was struck in the head by a telescopic lift while finalizing the setup for the evening’s performance. Although he was rushed immediately to emergency medical care, he was pronounced dead within the hour. Local officials are classifying the incident as an “industrial accident,” but have yet to determine what led to the deadly occurrence.
Sadly, the accident serves to confirm that no one is ever entirely safe from the threat of an unforeseeable accident, regardless of how sophisticated safeguards may be.
Truthfully, similar threats linger in plain view all around us. An injury or death can come unexpectedly from malfunctioning construction equipment, traffic accidents, or any of hundreds of other potentially dangerous sources. While it is always wise to be aware of one’s surroundings and risk factors in any given environment, there is a certain amount of risk in everyday living that cannot be eliminated, no matter who you may be.
If you have been injured in an accident, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries and associated losses. With the guidance of an experienced attorney, you can explore your opportunities to seek a fair remedy, with the confidence that your rights will remain protected throughout the process.
Source: SFGate.com, “Worker killed at Cirque du Soleil in SF was co-founder’s son,” Evan Sernoffsky, Dec. 01, 2016