Around $1 billion is spent annually on fireworks in America in anticipation of the Fourth of July holiday. However, given these extensive activities, it is not unexpected that emergency rooms see a considerable increase in patients during the first week of July.
Fireworks are loud, flashy, exciting, and dazzling, but they may also be dangerous; despite this, they are generally accessible. Anyone above the age of 16 may purchase what are marketed as safe and sane pyrotechnics from open fireworks vendors around the nation. Usually, they are static fireworks that don’t fly or explode.
According to statistics provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, it is easy to see why these fireworks cause so many accidents each year. Moreover, even after taking the appropriate precautions, accidents may still happen while handling fireworks.
You may be unclear about your legal options for recovering damages if you were hurt by fireworks. In order to move forward, you must prove that the person handling the fireworks was careless or that the explosives themselves were faulty.
Damages Following a Fireworks Accident
If someone hurt you as a result of their careless use of pyrotechnics, you may be able to sue for damages. For instance, if you were at a fireworks display and were hurt by fireworks that someone else set off, you could be able to sue the person or people who set up and lit the pyrotechnics.
How a Plaintiff Proves Negligence
- The defendant in issue had a duty of care to you, the plaintiff
- The defendant in your case negligently violated this responsibility, and you were injured
Malfunctioning Fireworks
A variety of dangers might come from malfunctioning fireworks. Before the lighter has traveled a safe distance, it could explode before it should. The fireworks could also explode in a way that the inventor did not intend. Finally, their unforeseen flight paths might endanger those who are in secure areas. In certain circumstances, if the injuries were brought on by manufacturing or design faults, you may be able to make a product liability claim.
If the fireworks don’t include the appropriate safety warnings, the pyrotechnics manufacturer or designer might be held responsible for any injuries. Fireworks are highly regulated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) because they are so lethal. To prevent user errors that might cause harm, it is crucial that fireworks include thorough warning and instruction labels. On the ATF website, you may see these warnings. Illegal pyrotechnics have sometimes been sold, and the seller may be held liable for any incidents.
How an Attorney Can Help
The possibility of disastrous fireworks mishaps rises throughout the summer, along with the temperature rise and an increase in outside activities. For years, Peterson & Associates, P.C. has defended clients in situations like these in Kansas City, Missouri and the surrounding regions. We may be able to help you get financial compensation if you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident brought on by someone else’s carelessness or faulty fireworks.