U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls Thousands of Fireworks Due to Safety Concerns

 Posted on July 03, 2019 in Product Liability

The Fourth of July is one of America’s favorite holidays. The day is most often celebrated with backyard cookouts, children swimming in swimming pools, and of course, fireworks. While watching fireworks light up the sky can be a delightful experience for children and adults alike, fireworks can also present serious risks. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that last year’s Independence Day celebrations resulted in approximately 9,100 fireworks-related injuries which required emergency room treatment. Sadly, the USCPC also reports that five individuals lost their lives due to fireworks incidents in 2018. There are several ways you and your loved ones can enjoy an injury-free Independence Day celebration this year, including making sure that the fireworks you plan to enjoy are safe and free of any defects.   

Fireworks Which Have Been Recalled Should Not Be Ignited or Kept

Nearly 38,000 fireworks sold in the United States which contained inaccurate levels of pyrotechnic material have been recalled. The fireworks were recalled because the defect cause an explosion much greater than what the firework is intended to produce. This defect puts consumers at risk for serious injuries—especially burns. For a complete list of the recalled fireworks, see the CPSC website. If you currently have any of the recalled fireworks, it is very important that you do not use them.

The CPSC also implores the public to follow safe firework handling procedures this Fourth of July. This includes only using legal fireworks sold by reputable sources, never pointing a firework at a person or crowd, moving away from fireworks immediately after they are ignited, and keeping a bucket of water around in case of an emergency.

Liability for Fireworks Injuries Depends on Several Circumstances

If you or a loved one have been injured due to a fireworks accident, you may be wondering who is to blame. Some fireworks injuries occur when people do not follow the instructions on the firework packaging for safe ignition or when children are allowed to play with fireworks unsupervised. While many firework accidents occur due to user errors such as these, some incidents are also caused by defective fireworks. If an injury or death is caused by a malfunctioning firework, it is possible that the manufacturer or distributor of the firework can be held legally-responsible. If a patron to a fireworks show is injured or killed, the organization putting on the fireworks show could be held liable. When an individual is injured due to the negligence of another party, they may be able to recover damages through a personal injury lawsuit.

Contact a Rockford, Illinois Product Liability Lawyer

To learn more about firework injury claims, contact a knowledgeable Winnebago County defective products attorney at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law. Schedule a cost-free, confidential consultation today by calling 815-215-7561.

Sources:

https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Fireworks_Report_2018.pdf

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/27/fourth-july-fireworks-several-brands-recalled-hazard-risk/1590972001/