Most Americans like to celebrate the Fourth of July with friends and family gathered around Ol’ Glory, enjoying a big BBQ and of course, fireworks. The custom of observing Independence Day with fireworks dates back to July 4, 1777, only one year after the Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence. However, as fun as it is to witness a clear night sky in July aglow with beautiful colors of red, white, and blue, it’s important to remember that fireworks, if mismanaged, may result in catastrophic injuries.
If you’re injured by fireworks in Kansas City or elsewhere in Missouri, you may be unsure of your legal rights and if you need the services of a personal injury lawyer. Can you seek compensation for a fireworks accident? Here are the facts on fireworks-related injury claims, damages, and statistics in Missouri, as well as information on how victims may proceed.
Fireworks Safety Tips
If you want to shoot fireworks on Independence Day, here are some precautions from the National Fire Protection Association to take to guarantee a safe Fourth of July celebration:
- Check local municipal regulations to ensure that you’re permitted to light fireworks in your area.
- Don’t group or entangle fuses, and light fireworks one at a time.
- Make certain that the fireworks are always lit by an adult. Never allow children to ignite fireworks on their own, and always monitor youngsters playing nearby.
- Never buy illicit or commercial-grade fireworks.
- Fireworks shouldn’t be lit directly on your hand.
- Never attempt to relight pyrotechnics that didn’t completely ignite, as malfunctioning fireworks are particularly dangerous. Put them in a bucket of water, then throw them away.
- Never aim or “shoot” pyrotechnics toward people or vehicles.
- Bottle rockets shouldn’t be launched from glass containers.
- Keep a hose or water available to put out any flames, and contact 911 immediately if the fire is too big to extinguish safely.
- Douse all firecracker fodder with water before tossing it out after cleaning up.
Fireworks Accidents and Personal Injury Claims
Every year around the Fourth of July, we hear about accidents caused by fireworks. Some injuries are caused by reckless activity, while others are caused by poor judgment, which often includes alcohol. According to studies from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 60 percent of firework-related injuries occur between the end of June and the end of July each year.
Additionally, teens and young adults are involved in approximately 40 percent of all firework-related injuries treated in emergency rooms. Pyrotechnics cause injuries ranging from minor burns to the loss of fingers, as well as harm to the eyes and hearing, and in severe cases, death.
A personal injury lawsuit may be brought if a person has a serious injury that results in significant medical bills and other consequences, such as a reduction in their ability to work or earn future earnings. Several variables may contribute to a fireworks-related injury, including the wounded victim’s irresponsibility, the source of the harm, and so on.
Find the Experienced Help You Need in Kansas City
If you or a loved one was wounded by pyrotechnics, contact a Kansas City personal injury attorney right away. Fortunately, there may be options for financial recovery that help with your rehabilitation and beyond. The skilled legal professionals at Peterson & Associates, P.C. has decades of expertise and an unrivaled ability to successfully defend clients injured in pyrotechnic accidents in Kansas City and around Missouri.