Don’t Make the Emergency Room Part of Your Fourth of July
Fireworks, pool parties, BBQ- the Fourth of July is known as a time of celebration as we rejoice in America’s freedom and celebrate the persevering American spirt, but this festive time also leads to various types of injuries. The United State Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises, “on average, 180 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in one month around the July 4th holiday”. The most common injuries deal with hands and fingers, followed closely by legs, and they estimate that nearly half of these injuries were burns. Additionally, The CPSC also advises that the highest rate of fireworks-related injuries occur among children ages 10 to 14 years old.
In addition to injuries at home, parties, or events, The University of Alabama’s Center for Advanced Public Safety performed research and concluded the fourth of July is the deadliest holiday to be on America’s roadways, and they listed impaired driving, increased speeds, and lack of seatbelts as contributing factors.
Wrongful Death from Fireworks Injury
Insurance Journal published an article last July stating that in 2017, there were 8 deaths, and 12,900 people who went to the hospital with injuries from fireworks accidents. One of these deaths dealt with a 4-year-old girl from Wisconsin who died from shrapnel when a metal tube of sparklers exploded after being set off by her father. Another tragic death of a child dealt with an 11-year-old boy who was home alone in Kansas playing with the fireworks when a device blew up and a piece of metal went into his neck. In both of these instances, it doesn’t seem that the manufacturer was liable for a defective product, but it is important to retain an experienced attorney in order to explore liability and potential negligence.
If the manufacturer of the fireworks was negligent, a wrongful death lawsuit can usually be brought on by the surviving family members of the deceased with the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney. Please read our article to obtain information regarding our expertise in the area of Wrongful Death cases.
At The Eberst Law Firm we have handled thousands of wrongful death cases, and we know how heartbreaking this experience is. We are prepared to handle your case in entirety so that you can focus on healing and recovering from your tremendous loss. Let us evaluate your case and fight for you so that we can pursue justice on your behalf.
Drunk Driving Accidents on the Fourth of July
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that during July 4 of 2017, 237 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes, which comprised 39% of the traffic fatalities during that holiday time. Please read our article here, subsection “Drunk Driving Leads to Unnecessary Deaths & Makes Our Road Hazardous” to learn more about the effects that alcohol has on your body and your driving.
Remember, when in doubt, always choose another option beside driving when intoxicated: spend the night with a friend, get a hotel, call an Uber or Lyft ride, or have a friend or family member take you home. Anyone would rather get a call from you asking for a ride rather than a call advising that something terrible has happened to you.
Safety Tips for the Fourth of July
The CPSC offers several helpful tips to ensure that people avoid injuries from fireworks, including:
- Don’t allow young children under the age of 14 to play with, hold, or ignite fireworks
- Don’t purchase fireworks that are packaged in brown paper, as this is usually a sign that these fireworks are made for professionals and could be dangerous to inexperienced users
- Be extra cautious of sparklers, as they burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees, which is hot enough to melt some metals
- Avoid placing any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse, and always back up quickly & as far as possible upon lighting the fuse
- Don’t ever try to re-light or handle fireworks that haven’t been fully ignited
- Don’t ever aim or throw fireworks at another person
- Keep a bucket of water or garden hose close by in case of a fire or mishap
- Light fireworks only one at a time
- Don’t ever carry fireworks in your pocket
- Never set fireworks off in metal or glass containers
- After the fireworks have completely burned, douse the device with water before putting it in the trash to avoid a fire
- Check & abide by local fireworks laws, even before purchasing the devices
Call The Eberst Law Firm if you’ve been Injured by a Firework or involved in a Fourth of July accident.
Please call us as soon as possible at 772-225-4900 if you or a loved one have been injured by fireworks or were in an accident as a result of someone else’s negligence on the Fourth of July. We will begin working on your case immediately and relentlessly, and we are here to answer any of your questions along the way.
Sources for “Injured on the Fourth of July?”
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks
https://blog.americansafetycouncil.com/six-most-dangerous-holidays-to-be-on-the-road-2/
https://www.apr.org/post/move-over-new-year-s-fourth-july-most-dangerous-holiday-drivers
https://eberstlaw.com/drunk-driving-in-florida/
https://eberstlaw.com/road-rage-car-accident-risk/
https://www.wbay.com/content/news/4-year-old-dies-from-house-explosion-433825833.html
https://www.livescience.com/65845-firework-injuries-july-4.html
https://www.nhtsa.gov/drunk-driving/july-4th-celebrate-americasafe-and-sober
https://eberstlaw.com/you-cant-outrun-the-law-dangerous-driving-in-florida/
