Burlington, VT Influencers: What Happens When a Brand’s Event Leaves You Injured?

You’ve spent years building your brand. Every post, every collaboration, every story is carefully curated to keep your audience engaged. Then, one day, you’re at a brand event in Burlington, maybe filming a promo at Church Street Marketplace or attending an exclusive launch near Lake Champlain. Everything’s going great until it’s not.

One moment, you’re creating content. The next, you’re on the ground, in pain, trying to figure out what just happened. A stage collapses, a lighting rig tips over, or a poorly secured backdrop falls. Now, you’re injured, dealing with medical bills, and possibly even losing brand deals.

 Horn Wright, LLP, understands how devastating these situations can be, and our personal injury attorneys can help you determine whether the brand is responsible and what legal options you have.

Hurt at a Sponsored Event? Why the Brand May Be Responsible for Your Injuries

When a brand invites you to an event, you expect a fun, safe experience, not a trip to the ER. But accidents happen, and if your injury was caused by something the brand should have prevented, they may be legally responsible.

Who’s Liable When an Influencer Gets Hurt?

The short answer? It depends. But here’s what you need to know:

• Brands have a duty of care. When they host an event, they’re responsible for making sure the space is safe. That means no unstable staging, no tripping hazards, and no dangerous props that could put you at risk.
• If they ignore safety, they could be on the hook. Say a brand sets up a promo shoot at Waterfront Park but fails to secure a large banner. A gust of wind sends it crashing into you. That’s negligence, and you could have a case.
• It’s not just about the venue. Even if the event is held at a rented space, like a high-end hotel in downtown Burlington, the brand might still be liable if they created the unsafe conditions.

The Legal Fight to Hold Brands Accountable

You’ve got an injury, medical bills are piling up, and maybe you’ve even lost brand partnerships because you can’t create content. So how do you prove the brand’s at fault?

• Document everything. Take photos of the hazard, get witness statements, and save any emails or contracts related to the event.
• Show that the brand was negligent. Did they ignore obvious dangers, fail to provide safety equipment, or cut corners to save costs?
• Prove your losses. If your injury forced you to cancel paid collaborations, keep records of those lost opportunities.

Holding a brand accountable isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Personal injury attorneys can help you gather evidence and file a claim if the brand’s negligence led to your injury.

The Hidden Dangers of Promo Shoots: Are Brands Risking Influencer Safety?

Not all brand events happen on big stages. Some are small, intimate promo shoots, just you, a camera crew, and a location that looks great in photos but might not be as safe as it seems.

Unsafe Conditions at Burlington-Based Promotions

Let’s say you’re at a scenic outdoor shoot in the Green Mountains. The brand wants an adventurous, off-the-grid vibe, but they didn’t check the terrain. You step on unstable ground, twist your ankle, and suddenly, you’re not filming content, you’re getting an X-ray.

Or maybe it’s an indoor promo at a historic Burlington building. The setting looks stunning, but the old, uneven flooring and exposed wires everywhere make it a safety hazard. You trip and hit your head. Who’s responsible?

What Brands Must Do to Protect Content Creators

If a brand invites you to a shoot, they need to:

• Vet the location. Whether it’s an urban rooftop or a forested trail, they should ensure it’s safe for everyone involved.
• Provide safety guidelines. If you’re expected to do physically risky activities, like standing on elevated platforms or handling heavy props, they should give you proper instructions and provide safety gear if necessary.
• Have insurance. If something goes wrong, there should be a plan in place to cover medical expenses.

You shouldn’t have to risk your health for a brand’s marketing campaign.

Can You Sue a Brand for an Injury? What Influencers Need to Know

You’re hurt, and the brand’s event caused it. Can you actually sue them? The answer depends on a few things.

Proving a Brand’s Negligence in Personal Injury Claims

To have a strong case, you’ll need to prove:

• The brand had a duty to keep you safe. (Hint: They usually do.)
• They breached that duty. Maybe they ignored a safety issue or failed to warn you about risks.
• That breach caused your injury. It wasn’t just bad luck, it was preventable.
• You suffered damages. Medical bills, lost income, and emotional distress all count.

The Biggest Legal Obstacles Influencers Face

Even if you have a solid case, you might run into a few roadblocks:

• Waivers. If you signed one, the brand might try to claim you can’t sue, but waivers don’t always hold up.
• Blame-shifting. The brand might argue that the venue, not them, is responsible.
• Proving lost income. If you’re a full-time influencer, you’ll need to show exactly how much money you lost because of the injury.

It’s tough, but not impossible. Working with experienced personal injury attorneys can make it easier to navigate these challenges.

Lost Income, Lost Followers: How an Injury Can Wreck an Influencer’s Career

An injury isn’t just painful, it can throw your entire career off track.

The Financial Fallout of Missing Brand Deals

When you can’t create content, you can’t keep up with sponsorships. That means:

• Lost income. A single canceled brand deal could cost you thousands.
• Lower engagement. If you’re inactive for too long, your algorithm ranking might take a hit.
• Reputation damage. Some brands might hesitate to work with you again if they think you’re unreliable, even though your injury wasn’t your fault.

How Influencers Can Claim Lost Wages and Damages

If a brand’s negligence caused your injury, you might be able to claim:

• Compensation for lost sponsorships. If you had to back out of deals, you could recover that lost income.
• Medical expenses. Hospital bills, physical therapy, and even mental health treatment related to the accident should be covered.
• Future lost earnings. If your injury has long-term effects, you might be entitled to more.

Contracts and Waivers: Are You Signing Away Your Right to Sue?

Let’s be real, most influencers don’t read the fine print before signing a brand contract. But you should.

What Influencer Agreements Really Say

Buried in that contract might be:

• A waiver of liability. The brand saying, “You can’t sue us no matter what.”
• An arbitration clause. Instead of taking them to court, you’d have to go through private arbitration, which usually favors them.
• A confidentiality clause. Meaning you can’t even talk about the injury publicly.

Final Thoughts

As an influencer, you work hard to build your career. You shouldn’t have to risk it all because a brand didn’t prioritize safety.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our personal injury attorneys understand the challenges influencers face. If you’ve been injured at a brand event, we’re here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Learn more about why you should hire one of the best law firms in America. Contact us today for a free consultation.