In Southern California recently, Fourth of July celebrants were injured when fireworks exploded into a crowd at a suburban park. Authorities said that it is likely an accident involving one of the launching stations. An always popular mid summer event, the demand for fireworks has greatly increased nationwide.
According to U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, firework imports into the United States have increased 700% in the past 30 years. Sixty percent of all fireworks injuries occur during the 30 days surrounding the July 4th holiday.
Over the 4th of July weekend, over 10,000 people will be injured in the United States, a large percentage of which are children.
Shrapnel flying across the field
State fire officials investigated the cause of the accident which sent shrapnel flying across the field. Dozens of people were wounded as many in the crowd of thousands fled for safety. An initial investigation determined that it appears a firework exploded prematurely in its mortar, knocking over others and aiming them across the field.
The crowd was about 800 feet — more than the length of two football fields — away from the launch area, officials said.
At least 28 victims — ranging in age from 8 to 78 years old — were injured. Eight people were treated at the scene. Others were hospitalized, four with serious injuries such as burns and cuts.
“We saw a lot of burns,” said a local hospital official. “We saw some shrapnel injuries, some trampling-like injuries and chest pain.”
A young woman was transported to a nearby burn treatment center, and two adult males were treated for trampling injuries and chest pain. None of the injuries were life threatening.
Two patients were transferred to other medical facilities and were treated and released.
Follow-up investigations of incidents like this one show that most injuries are associated with malfunctioning fireworks or improper use. Malfunctioning fireworks often result in unexpected flight paths and dangerous debris. While most victims recover from their injuries, some victims report that their injuries might be long term.
If you’ve suffered burn injuries and you need the services of a Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles please contact us at (323) 947-2224 or visit the Personal Injury section on our website at the DAG Law Firm. Call today and we will connect you with Daniel A. Gibalevich, an experienced, aggressive, affordable Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles. After you have spoken with our Los Angeles Personal Injury Law attorney, we can schedule you a free face to face appointment to discuss your circumstances. If you have questions or are considering any aspect of Personal Injury Law, we can help! Call us now at (323) 947-2224. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting you with any and all Personal Injury Law needs.
