Injured or Blinded by Fireworks? Key Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Attorney

As July 4 approaches, millions of Americans will celebrate Independence Day both by watching fireworks displays and by setting off their own fireworks. Unfortunately, these practices can also result in fireworks-related injuries, like blindness and burns. Appropriately, July is National Fireworks Safety Month, and for good reason. According to Prevent Blindness, fireworks caused approximately 10,000 injuries in 2019, and fifteen percent of those injuries were eye-related. If you have suffered blindness or injury due to fireworks malfunctions, let’s discuss some key questions you should ask a personal injury attorney.

Who may be liable for my fireworks injuries?

Depending on how you were injured, any of several parties may be liable for your injuries. For example:

• The manufacturer of the firework that malfunctioned
• The seller or distributor of the fireworks
• A neighbor who was using fireworks inappropriately
• The organizers of a fireworks event (for example, if you were injured while watching a display)

A good attorney can assess any applicable laws in your jurisdiction to determine who is liable for fireworks-related injuries. Their answer to this question will tell you a lot about their ability to help you.

What damages can I claim in my fireworks injury case?

As a general rule, fireworks injury lawsuits may include claims for the following damages:

• Medical expenses. This includes treatment for the initial injuries plus any ongoing care needed (for example, if you have been blinded).
• Loss of income. This includes any lost wages during your hospitalization, plus any hit to your future earning capacity if you are permanently injured.
• Non-economic damages. These damages are based on intangibles, like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress.
• Punitive damages. Additional damages assigned by the court as punishment for particularly negligent or egregious actions.

A good personal injury lawyer can evaluate your situation to determine which damages to ask for and to make sure you receive the full measure of compensation to which you are entitled.

Litigating personal injury cases for people blinded by fireworks or resulting fire can be challenging because liability may be difficult to prove. To be successful, you need an experienced personal injury attorney who is detail oriented and has strong negotiation skills, and someone who knows how to identify instances of negligence and argue aggressively, when necessary.  If your Fourth of July celebrations result in blindness or other injuries due to fireworks negligence, our personal injury attorneys are here to help. Contact us for a free initial consultation.