Fireworks Displays and the Hidden Dangers to Children

Fireworks displays can dazzle and entertain. However, they can also be dangerous. It’s imperative that everyone organizing such displays exercises the proper care and follows all relevant instructions.

Unfortunately, sometimes fireworks displays do cause harm. If your child was recently hurt in such an incident, financial compensation may be available if you can demonstrate that your child was injured as a result of another party’s negligence. In certain circumstances, you may file an insurance claim or lawsuit on their behalf, seeking compensation for losses such as past and future medical bills related to their fireworks accident injuries.

What You Need to Know About Legal Options After a Fireworks Accident That Harms Your Child

Fireworks accidents can take many forms. For example, if someone fails to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when setting off fireworks, rather than flying high into the air as intended, they can fly into a crowd, potentially causing severe injuries, such as serious burns, loss of extremities such as fingers or limbs, or broken bones. In some cases, fireworks accidents may even tragically result in death.

Depending on the circumstances, fireworks accidents can also involve failure to adhere to proper crowd control procedures. Perhaps your child was injured because those organizing a fireworks display didn’t take necessary steps to keep children from approaching the display too closely.

There are also instances in which accidents may result indirectly from fireworks malfunctions. For instance, if fireworks were to be accidentally launched into a crowd, this could cause panic, which might result in children or others being injured as a result of being trampled or suffocated.

Again, filing an insurance claim or lawsuit seeking compensation may be an option if you can demonstrate that your child’s injuries resulted from another party’s negligence. Determining the negligent party and generating evidence to support your case will require conducting an investigation.

Potential Liable Parties in Fireworks Accident Cases

The liable parties when children are injured in fireworks accidents can vary on a case-by-case basis. Perhaps you’re attending an amateur fireworks display, and your child is injured because someone didn’t follow the manufacturer’s instructions when setting off fireworks. In this case, the individual who failed to follow the proper procedures may be the liable party.

Often, however, fireworks displays are organized by independent contractors, local governments, and other such entities. In these contexts, the liable party may not be an individual, but rather the company or organization that didn’t take proper steps to ensure audience safety. However, even in these circumstances, it is important to determine the individuals involved, as they will not only be important witnesses, but also may be liable as agents of the companies or entities they work for.

That said, even if those putting on fireworks displays do exercise care and follow all appropriate instructions, accidents may still happen if fireworks malfunction. In these cases, the manufacturers or designers of the defective fireworks may be liable.

Compensation in Fireworks Accident Cases

Compensation can also vary depending on the specifics of your child’s injuries and other related losses. Again, most commonly, you would seek compensation for financial losses like medical bills. However, your child may also endure struggles and difficulties resulting from their injuries that do not have specific dollar values. That doesn’t mean they don’t deserve compensation for these difficulties when they resulted from another party’s negligence.

A common example of such a loss would be the pain and suffering a child must endure while recovering from their injuries, as well as the impact of long term disabilities.

The Value of Legal Help After a Fireworks Accident Harms Your Child

Once more, determining who’s responsible for providing compensation after a fireworks accident that results in injury to a child can involve conducting a thorough investigation. Although you may not have the means, resources, or experience necessary to investigate your child’s accident on your own, you can enlist the help of legal professionals to investigate on your behalf.

Lawyers with experience handling these types of cases can also help you document your child’s compensable losses so that you seek the amount of compensation they deserve. Otherwise, you may run the risk of accepting a low offer from an insurance company.

It’s also worth noting that the process of pursuing compensation from an insurance company or liable party can involve many steps. When you hire a lawyer to handle the process on your behalf, you have more time to devote to caring for your child and their needs after what may have been a traumatic incident for both of you.

At Swartz & Swartz, P.C, our Boston personal injury lawyers have experience representing children and their families after many types of accidents. Our team is prepared to fight for the compensation that may be available if your child was hurt due to someone else’s negligence. Learn more about how we can help by contacting us online today or calling us at (617) 742-1900 to set up your free consultations.

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