Fireworks Injuries and Burns: 4th of July Holiday Safety

Fireworks Injury Accidents in Kansas City

Although it’s illegal in most Kansas City neighborhoods, homeowners often shoot off fireworks on their street or in backyard BBQ celebrations during the 4th of July holiday. Yes, everybody does it. We all know it’s risky and illegal, and yet despite that, more than 15,000 preventable fireworks-related injuries occurred in the United States last year.

In fact, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200 people a day go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries in the weeks leading up to the July 4th holiday celebration. Worse, most of them are children and young adults under the age of 15.

Besides the burns, eye injuries, and other trauma caused by fireworks, property damage to surrounding homes can be just as devastating. Fireworks start more fires nationwide on the fourth of July than all other causes combined making it a serious threat to your most valuable possession and the family inside.

No matter the celebration, please leave the fireworks to the professionals as they are best equipped to handle explosives. And more important, protect yourself, your home, and your loved ones from being a victim of a serious fireworks-related injury.

What Causes Fireworks Injury Accidents?

Obviously, when untrained individuals light explosives, things can (and do) go wrong. But there are a number of other factors that make fireworks dangerous. In some cases, the explosives have been manufactured poorly – meaning, they were made by unlicensed manufacturers or were tampered with during/after production. Non-licensed fireworks aren’t subject to the same laws, regulations, standards and inspections that licensed fireworks are, and therefore, their consistency, stability, and reliability cannot be officially ensured. This includes fireworks constructed from mail-order kits, which are illegal and certainly dangerous to assemble or use.

More often than not, fireworks accidents are caused by the negligence of others before, during, and after they are ignited.

What are Common Fireworks Injuries?

The degree of severity may vary, but for the most part, all fireworks injuries are serious. Even something as seemingly harmless as sparklers can burn someone. In fact, sparklers can burn at temperatures of up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit – hot enough to melt metals!

Injuries from fireworks can result in thousands of dollars in medical costs. Burns are the most common injury caused by fireworks. Though minor burns may heal without medical attention, second and third-degree burns may require extensive medical treatment such as skin grafts. In addition, burn or eye injuries from fireworks often result in high rehabilitative costs, lost wages, and other damages – especially when the injury is serious enough to cause permanent blindness.

Who Is Liable in a Fireworks Injury Lawsuit?

If you or someone you love has sustained serious burns, eye injuries, or other trauma from fireworks, it’s a good idea to contact an attorney. Depending on how you were injured, any one of several parties may be liable. For example:

• The manufacturer of a malfunctioning explosive
• The seller or distributor of the fireworks
• A neighbor who set off fireworks illegally and hurt you, your family, or your home
• The organizers of a fireworks event (for example, if you were injured while watching the fireworks display)

Donovan Dodrill of Plaza Injury Law can assess the applicable laws in Missouri or Kansas to determine who is legally at fault and what steps you can take to maximize compensation for your injuries. Fireworks injury lawsuits often include claims for the following damages:

• Medical expenses: This includes treatment for the initial burns, eye injuries, or other trauma caused by the fireworks accident plus any ongoing care you may need (for example, if you have been blinded).
• Loss of income: This includes any lost wages during your hospitalization and your future earnings potential if you are permanently injured.
• Non-economic damages: These damages are based on things like like pain and suffering or emotional distress.
• Punitive damages: Additional damages may be assigned by the court for particularly negligent actions.

Contact Plaza Injury Law

Whether it’s through the result of improper use or a product defect, a fireworks-related injury can be devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured in a fireworks accident, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. Many injuries caused by fireworks – especially accidents involving children – are often a result of negligence, and in such cases, you may deserve compensation.

Donovan Dodrill, owner and principal of Plaza Injury Law, is passionate about fighting for the rights of accident victims. Whether your accident occurred in Missouri or Kansas, call Donovan directly at 816-945-4409 for a free consultation.