Can I Recover Damages for a Fireworks Injury in Illinois?

 Posted on June 17,2020 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

For many people, fireworks are one of the most enjoyable parts of summer. Whether you are visiting a public fireworks display or setting off small fireworks in your backyard, watching the lights streak across the sky is fun for all ages. Unfortunately, fireworks can also be very dangerous. There are many steps you can take to help prevent fireworks injuries. However, if you or a loved one is injured in a fireworks accident this summer, you should know that you may be entitled to compensation.

Preventing Common Fireworks Injuries

Fireworks can be fun, but they can also cause severe, sometimes disfiguring injuries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that, in the weeks surrounding Independence Day, 180 people per day visit emergency rooms due to fireworks-related injuries. Over 44 percent of these ER visits are for burns. The hands, fingers, face, eyes, and legs are the areas of the body that are most likely to suffer from a fireworks injury. If you plan to enjoy fireworks this summer, make sure to immediately back away from fireworks after lighting them, never point or throw fireworks at another person, and douse used fireworks in water before throwing them in the trash.

Fireworks Injury Lawsuits

Many fireworks injury lawsuits depend upon whether or not an individual or company acted negligently. When a company is hired to put on a public fireworks show, that company has a legal obligation to prevent foreseeable injuries to spectators. A pyrotechnic show company may be liable for fireworks injuries if they:

• Ignited fireworks too close to spectators

• Did not properly maintain fireworks launching equipment

• Used fireworks indoors or in an otherwise unsafe location

• Exposed spectators to avoidable danger

It is also possible that a city or county may be liable for fireworks injuries if it did not use reasonable care when choosing and hiring the fireworks company. If the injury was caused by a defective firework, the company who designed or manufactured the fireworks may be liable. Suing an individual for a firework injury can be challenging, but it is easier to prove fault if the individual was breaking local or state laws at the time of the injury. If negligence or wrongdoing caused a person to suffer a serious fireworks injury, it is possible that he or she may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and more. Determining fault for a fireworks injury and proving that the responsible party’s actions caused the injury is often a challenging task. This is why it is crucial to work with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Contact a Lake County Personal Injury Lawyer

If another party’s negligence caused you or a loved one to be injured in a fireworks accident, it can lead to costly medical bills and lost wages. Contact Salvi & Maher, LLC to discuss your options for pursuing the compensation you need and deserve to move on with your life. Call our office today at 847-662-3303 and set up a free consultation with our skilled Waukegan fireworks injury attorneys.

Source:

https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/