With New Year’s Eve quickly approaching, thousands of Illinoisans are preparing to purchase fireworks for their holiday festivities. Despite stringent laws that prohibit the use of certain kinds of fireworks in Illinois, many holiday parties feature some incredibly dangerous displays of explosive materials. The use of these fireworks can lead to serious injuries, and the healing process can be stressful and expensive. If you have suffered a fireworks injury, a personal injury attorney can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.
Firework Injuries Rising
While most Americans view fireworks as a fun and festive way to ring the new year, in all actuality, they are a legitimate safety threat. Throughout 2017, approximately 12,900 Americans were hospitalized due to injuries suffered while using fireworks. Tragically, eight of those injuries proved to be fatal. Despite laws prohibiting certain types of dangerous fireworks and countless safety videos designed to reduce fireworks injuries, these injuries continue to rise. In 2017, there was a 15% increase in fireworks injury hospitalizations. Unfortunately, fireworks injuries are often incredibly difficult to recover from, and they can alter a person’s life permanently.
Common Injuries
Fireworks injuries can be some of the most gruesome and painful injuries imaginable. Over half of all fireworks injuries involve some forms of burns, and bruises and open wounds account for 30% of these injuries. The vast majority of fireworks injuries occur on the hand or wrist. Hundreds of people lose hands or fingers due to injuries suffered while using fireworks. Loss of limbs, open wounds, and severe burns can all require extensive physical therapy to fully recover.
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