Many of us consider the summer to be incomplete without fireworks. Fireworks are a fantastic way to enjoy the summer and celebrate the Fourth of July, whether you’re celebrating with friends or going to a public fireworks show. However, even if you are cautious, you may become the victim of a fireworks-related accident causing injuries.
If you are injured by fireworks in Kansas City or anyplace else in Missouri, you may be unsure of your legal rights and if you will require a personal injury attorney. You may question whether there is any possibility of collecting compensation for an accident involving pyrotechnics. Here are the facts on fireworks-related injury claims, damages, and statistics in Missouri and how you can move forward as a victim.
How Frequent Are Fireworks-Related Injuries?
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), pyrotechnics cause over 12,000 injuries annually. Sparklers account for the majority of fireworks-related injuries, responsible for around 30% of injuries caused by pyrotechnics.
It is essential to remember that the majority of fireworks that cause accidents are legal. Illegal fireworks account for just 15% of accidents involving fireworks. What’s more, only 3% of fireworks injuries are caused by bottle rockets.
Additional Statistics
- The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that pyrotechnics cause at least 15,500 fires annually in the United States.
- Approximately 30% of these incidents occur on the Fourth of July, and 50% of the fires recorded on July 4th are caused by fireworks.
- Children are at significant risk for fireworks-related injuries, with nearly one-third of fireworks-related injuries occurring in children under the age of 15.
Liability for Injury Caused by Fireworks
If you are injured by fireworks, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against the individual responsible for your injuries.
You may be entitled to get compensation for your medical expenses, lost pay due to time away from work, physical pain, and mental agony. In the event that you are the victim of a personal injury accident involving fireworks, Missouri law permits you to seek compensation based on negligence-based legal theories.
Because fireworks are harmful, those who use them must use extreme caution. In the same way that a person has a responsibility to exercise caution while operating heavy equipment or a motor vehicle, fireworks users have a high duty to exercise caution since everyone is aware that pyrotechnics are harmful. However, keep in mind that a person’s obligation of care is situation-dependent.
When an accident involving pyrotechnics happens, the law considers what a reasonable person would have done in the same scenario. If a reasonable person would have behaved differently because fireworks are known to be hazardous, the negligent party may be liable for victim injuries. Thus, a person who wishes to handle fireworks must be aware of their inherent risks and behave with caution to prevent damage. When they are careless, they may expose themselves to legal culpability for their activities.
When You Suffer a Fireworks Injury
As we head into the thick of summer, the chance of being severely injured by fireworks grows. If you or a loved one has been wounded by fireworks, you should immediately contact a Kansas City personal injury attorney. There may be options that might assist you in your rehabilitation and beyond. Our team at Peterson & Associates, P.C. has decades of experience and unmatched expertise in successfully defending clients injured by pyrotechnic incidents in Kansas City and throughout Missouri. Our legal team may be able to assist you in seeking justice after an accident involving unsafe fireworks and resulting injuries.