4th of July Fireworks Safety

It’s the 4th of July and, while I hate to be the wet blanket on your 4th of July party, I’d like to take the opportunity to warn you about fireworks. The rules in Oregon are pretty specific about what kind of fireworks you can buy, but let’s face it, lots of people drive over the bridge in Portland and get bigger better fireworks in Vancouver. Fireworks can be fun, but they take a lot of supervision, especially with children.

Every summer I see otherwise totally safe parents letting their children run wild with fireworks, and it always gives me pause. As an example, there is a sad story about a young man that I’d like to share with you.

A middle school aged minor I represented had legal fireworks, and went to a friend’s house to use them. Unbeknownst to him, the boys at the house had used some gasoline in an empty water tank the day before just goofing around and the gasoline didn’t burn off all the way. My client lit a tiny firecracker and dropped it in the water tank. Then the whole tank exploded, severely burning his face. Fortunately, he recovered pretty well. They got him to the hospital and he was in the burn unit for 7 weeks before he was released.

This story is a reminder that with fireworks, the potential for serious injury is huge, so enjoy them carefully this 4^th of July.

If you or a loved one has a burn injury you should seek medical attention immediately. And if the burn was caused by the actions or negligence of another person or company, you may be able to get compensation.

If the thought of navigating the legal claims process seems overwhelming, consider hiring a compassionate Portland burn injury attorney. They can give you a free consultation to assess your potential claim, and then guide you through to recovery.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable 4th of July. Happy 4th of July!