Multiple Injured in Tamworth Floor Collapse at The Preserve at Chocorua

TAMWORTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE (March 23, 2026) – At least 70 people at a Tamworth wedding venue fell through the floor of the Sap House at The Preserve at Chocorua.

Carroll County officials are saying that the accident took place around 4:30 PM on Saturday. There were roughly 144 people gathered inside of the Sap House for The Preserve at Chocorua.

For undetermined reasons, the floor of the building suddenly collapsed. Sending an estimated 70 people into the basement. Victims were trapped underneath beams, farm equipment, and other guests.

The Tamworth Fire Department and multiple other agencies were called to the scene to help all of the victims. Multiple people were injured after the floor collapsed, and six were transported to area hospitals.

Several people were also treated at the scene. Thankfully, no one died in the accident. Roughly half of the floor collapsed towards the beginning of the wedding ceremony.

As of Monday, two people remain hospitalized with injuries. A full investigation into the floor collapse at The Preserve at Chocorua remains ongoing.

Liability for Accidents at Tamworth Wedding Venues

Property owners in New Hampshire have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This necessitates that they abide by all fire and building codes. Among other things, it is illegal for any business owner to fill any venue beyond its maximum occupant capacity. Overcrowding creates serious hazards in the event of a fire or other emergency. There are many ways that a property owner may have acted negligently prior to any floor collapse.

• Maintenance: A property owner may fail to periodically inspect and maintain their premises.
• Warnings: A property owner may fail to issue warnings of a dangerous condition. This could include failing to warn about load limits.
• Overcrowding: A property owner may create a dangerous condition by allowing overcrowding.
• Heavy Loads: A property owner may create a hazard by storing heavy pieces of machinery in a location, such as farm equipment.

When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition on their premises, they must take action. Failing to take action could serve as evidence of negligence and form the basis of a premises liability claim. Depending on the specific facts of any case, there could be several liable parties following any floor collapse. Of course, this will include the venue owner where an accident took place. It can also include contractors or builders that improperly repaired or renovated a commercial space.

Common Causes of Floor Collapse Accidents

Floor collapses are relatively rare, but they can leave victims with traumatic injuries. According to one study in the Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, “A total of 225 building failures in the United States from 1989 to 2000 were recorded in this study. The result shows that failures of low-rise buildings constitute about 63% of all cases, followed by multistory buildings as a distant second. In terms of their functions, apartments are the most frequent to fail.” Several other factors could easily play a major role in any floor collapse.

• Overloading: Overloading has been consistently identified as a factor in these types of accidents.
• External Events: Many different types of external events, including wind, rain, snow, and motor vehicle collisions could seriously weaken a building’s structural integrity and lead to collapse.
• Construction Deficiencies: Improper renovations and poor workmanship can create major deficiencies in a property that seriously compromises a floor’s structural stability.
• Maintenance Deficiencies: Many of the buildings across New Hampshire are quite old. They require periodic maintenance to address potential deficiencies. This is particularly important for wooden structures like barns.

It can be difficult to know where to begin after being injured in a floor collapse. Victims are often left with traumatic injuries and may need to take extensive periods of time away from work. A fall can cause a traumatic compression of a person’s spinal cord. To make matters worse, property owners will almost never accept responsibility if someone is injured on their property. This is why victims should carefully consider their legal options with an experienced attorney. Any person injured in a New Hampshire floor collapse may be able to pursue damages through a personal injury claim.

Getting Legal Help for Tamworth Floor Collapse Accidents

We at DiBella Law extend our best wishes to all of the victims injured in this floor collapse at The Preserve at Chocorua wedding venue. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. Why were so many people allowed in such a relatively small confined space? When was the last time this building was examined by a structural engineer?

Have you or someone that you care about been injured at The Preserve at Chocorua? You may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of premises liability attorneys is here to support you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.