Fireworks are a staple of Fourth of July celebrations across the United States, but they also cause thousands of preventable injuries every year. Burns, eye injuries, hand trauma, and fires can occur in seconds, often leaving victims with permanent damage.

Liability in fireworks injury cases may depend on how the incident occurred. Potentially responsible parties can include:

• Property owners hosting unsafe displays 
• Individuals using fireworks negligently 
• Event organizers or vendors 
• Manufacturers of defective fireworks products 

Children are especially vulnerable to fireworks injuries, even when they are only nearby observers. Sparklers alone can burn at extremely high temperatures and cause serious harm.

Some cases involve illegal fireworks or violations of local safety ordinances, which may become important when determining negligence. Evidence such as photographs, videos, witness statements, and fire department reports can help establish what happened.

What begins as a holiday celebration can quickly turn into a long recovery involving surgeries, rehabilitation, and emotional trauma. Gunn | Slater represents clients across Missouri and Illinois and provides guidance on how these cases are evaluated, investigated, and pursued.