Almost Everybody Loves Fireworks Until They Get Injured – Experienced Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer Weighs In
When I was a young boy, I use to spend many hours making fireworks, M-80's, ashcans, smoke bombs, and Roman Candles in my basement with my friends. We would laugh with glee as we blew up Campbell soup cans and other similar contraptions until one of my best friends blew off his middle finger due to a defective fuse and firework.
I am now 55-years old and I will never forget the screams of my friend and the bleeding stump of the finger that was left when an M-80 blew up in his hand as he lit a defective fuse that ignited the M-80 in rapid fire fashion before he was able to toss it.
Demand for fireworks has skyrocketed in Pennsylvania and nationwide. According to U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, firework imports into the United States have increased 700% in the past 30 years. As you drive on Pennsylvania highways, you will see signs advertising Phantom Fireworks who have established hundreds of seasonal tents in Pennsylvania selling state legal sparklers, fountains and novelties. The southeastern states along the I-95 corridor showcase a number of seasonal firework operations that sell the bigger stuff or the supplies necessary to make M-80's or other explosive devices. The National Fire Protection Association has formed an alliance to stop consumer fireworks, stating that “There is no such thing as a safe firework.” During the 4th of July weekend, over 10,000 people will be injured in the United States, a large percentage of which are children. Pennsylvania allows non-explosive fireworks but prohibits anything designed to create a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation. Fireworks are explosives and many people have lost their lives and limbs using them.
As an experienced Pennsylvania catastrophic injury and wrongful death lawyer, we urge you to take all steps to reduce the risk of a 4th of July fireworks incident. The USCPSC has posted the following recommendations to their website:
1. Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
2. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
3. Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging as this can be a sign that fireworks are made for professional displays and create a danger to consumers.
4. Adults should always supervise firework activity.
5. Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers for children under 5, as sparklers burn at temperatures of approximately 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt some metals.
6. Never have any portion of your body directly over the firework device when lighting a fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.
7. Never try to relight or pick up fireworks that are not fully functioning.
8. Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
9. Keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher in case there is a fire or mishap.
10. Light one item at a time and move back quickly.
11. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
12. After fireworks complete their function, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.
The Pennsylvania catastrophic injury lawyers at Reiff & Bily investigate potential cases for severe fireworks injuries which occur in Pennsylvania. Because of the negligence of another person or corporation resulting in a firework accident, compensation may be available through a legal claim. To review a potential firework injury lawsuit, please contact one of our lawyers for a free, no-obligation consultation.
