September 11, 2015 | By Greene Broillet & Wheeler
Fireworks injuries are very common throughout the United States, especially on holidays. Most of these injuries happen after a consumer misuses fireworks. Common mistakes can result in improperly lighting fireworks, lighting them too close to spectators or holding the fireworks in hand while lighting them. Sometimes, even when no consumer mistakes are made, fireworks can cause serious injuries.
Design defects and sloppy manufacturing practices can cause individuals to get seriously hurt by fireworks. In these cases, the fireworks manufacturer could be liable for the resulting injuries, so it is important to be able to identify them when they occur.
Malfunctioning and dangerously defective fireworks hurt people in several different ways. A premature explosion is one sign of a negligently manufactured firework. Defective fuses may cause fireworks to act in a way that they were not expected to act and cause injuries. Also, flying fireworks like bottle rockets might take an unusual flight path and strike someone causing injuries. Finally, fireworks designed to soar through the air, such as bottle rockets, can take unpredictable flight paths, injuring onlookers or hitting nearby vehicles and buildings.
Firework injuries often include burn injuries. They may also include injuries to the eye — if a flying firework hit a child’s face, for example. It is important for anyone who is burned or harmed in any way from fireworks to seek immediate medical attention. These individuals may also want to gather evidence and witnesses regarding the event for the purpose of pursuing compensation for the money they spent on medical care and other kinds of financial damages stemming from the accident.