Napoli Bern Ripka, LLP Blog
Napoli Bern Ripka, LLP Blog
As this time of year rolls around, celebrators who set out to have a good time enjoying the 4th of July festivities end up becoming injured by fireworks. Hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities treated more than 21,000 injuries related to fireworks in 2007, according to statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cited in a news release from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Children and teens younger than 17 years old sustained 11,000 of those injuries.
Most of the cases that occur on the 4th of July tend to be burn victims, Dr. Bill Hampton, an emergency room physician at Holy Family Memorial Medical Center. Bottle rockets are notorious for eye injuries because injuries can come from bending over them or from throwing them at each other.
Besides causing personal injury, use of fireworks also can lead to fires. Deputy Chief Gregg Kadow of the Manitowoc Fire Department said in a news release more fires are reported on July 4 than any other day, and half are the result of fireworks. Citing statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, he said fireworks caused more than 1,800 structure fires and 700 vehicle fires in the latest reporting period.
It is inevitable that people are going to be playing with fireworks; therefore it should be reinforced that the handling should be made by parents and adults. Adults who are going to light fireworks need to be aware of what they have and how it will react, said Two Rivers Fire Chief Kevin Timm. They should light fireworks on blacktop or concrete, not grass, and make sure the device is stable, so it won't topple over. It may be tempting to try to relight fireworks that don't go off the first time, but that's asking for trouble, according to the experts.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and National Council on Fireworks Safety advise people never to reignite fireworks that malfunction. Here are some recommendations to practice when dealing with fireworks: Always read and follow label directions, have an adult present, buy from reliable fireworks sellers, ignite outdoors, have water handy, never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks, light one at a time, never give to small children, store in a cool, dry place, never throw fireworks at another person, never carry fireworks in your pocket, never shoot them in metal or glass containers, & dispose of properly.
Every year more than 90,000 people die in an unintentional injury in the United States. The injury, whether intentional or not, may either be physical or emotional that arises from many different circumstances. Even when taking such precautions injury resulting from fireworks does occur and can cause devastating injuries. Personal injury lawsuits can get lengthy and become costly therefore it’s crucial to hire an attorney that knows the industry well. Personal injury lawyers, Napoli Bern Ripka, have the experience necessary to take your case forward and enable you to understand how to proceed. They have access to the top resources needed to get the settlement you deserve, not what is offered.
For the full article on Fireworks click here
Comments
Post a comment
Post a Comment to "4th of July Firework Festivities: Cause of Fun or Personal Injury"
To reply to this message, enter your reply in the box labeled "Message", enter your username and password, and hit "Post Message."