Fireworks season doesn’t start on July 4th. It starts now. By Memorial Day weekend, people across the country are already setting off fireworks in backyards, at block parties, and on the beach — and the injuries are already happening too. If you or someone you love gets hurt this season, knowing what to do right away can make a real difference.
How Many People Get Hurt Each Year?
The numbers from 2024 are eye-opening. According to the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory, an estimated 14,700 people were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks injuries in 2024 — a jump of about 52% compared to the year before. Eleven people died from their injuries in 2024 alone.
About two-thirds of all fireworks injuries in a given year happen in the one-month window around the Fourth of July, starting in mid-June and running through mid-July. But emergency room visits begin climbing well before that — including Memorial Day weekend.
These are not rare accidents. They happen every summer, all across the country — in neighborhoods, at public events, and at backyard celebrations.
What Are the Most Common Injuries?
Fireworks can cause serious, permanent harm in a matter of seconds. The most common types of injuries include:
- Burns. The most common injury, making up about 37% of all fireworks-related ER visits.
- Hand and finger injuries. Hands and fingers are the most frequently hurt body parts, accounting for about 36% of injuries — ranging from severe burns to amputations.
- Eye injuries. Head, face, and eye injuries make up a large share of ER visits. Fireworks are one of the leading causes of serious eye injuries in the U.S., and many result in permanent vision loss.
- Hearing loss. Close-range blasts can cause lasting damage to your hearing, even from a single incident.
Even fireworks that seem small and harmless can be dangerous. Sparklers, for example, burn at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to cause third-degree burns. In 2024, sparklers alone sent an estimated 1,700 people to the ER.
Who Can Be Held Responsible?
When someone gets hurt by fireworks, it is not always just an accident. In many cases, someone else’s careless actions — or a defective product — played a role. Several different people or groups can be responsible:
The person who set off the fireworks. If someone handled fireworks carelessly, lit them too close to a crowd, or used illegal devices, they may be responsible for the harm they caused.
The company that made the fireworks. If the fireworks were defective — they misfired, exploded unexpectedly, or didn’t perform the way they were supposed to — the manufacturer may be on the hook.
A property owner or event organizer. If you were at a private party, a festival, or any event where someone was responsible for keeping guests safe, that person or organization may share responsibility if they allowed dangerous conditions to exist.
A city or government agency. If you were hurt at a public fireworks show run by a city, county, or other government body, you may have the right to take action against that entity if the show was poorly managed or safety measures were not followed.
You don’t need to figure out who is responsible on your own. That’s what an attorney is for.
What Should You Do Right After Getting Hurt?
The steps you take in the hours and days after an injury can matter a great deal later on.
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1
Get medical care immediately.
Your health comes first. Go to the ER or urgent care, even if the injury seems minor. Some injuries — especially eye and ear injuries — are worse than they initially appear.
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2
Document everything.
Take photos of your injuries as soon as possible. Get photos of the scene if you can safely do so.
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3
Save the fireworks and packaging.
Do not throw away the device that caused the injury, or its box and packaging. These can be important evidence, especially if the fireworks were defective.
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4
Get witness information.
If other people saw what happened, write down their names and contact information while the details are still fresh.
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5
Keep all your medical records and bills.
Every document related to your treatment matters. Hold on to all paperwork from the ER, your doctor, and any specialists you see.
For a more detailed walkthrough, see our guide on the first 24 hours after a fireworks injury.
Don’t Wait Too Long — There Is a Deadline
One of the biggest mistakes injured people make is waiting too long to ask for help.
In every state, there is a legal deadline for taking action after you are hurt. Once that deadline passes, you may lose your right to seek money for your medical bills, lost work, and pain — no matter how serious your injuries are.
In some states, the deadline is as short as one year. If the responsible party is a government entity — like a city running a public fireworks show — the deadline can be even shorter, sometimes just a few months.
The sooner you speak with an attorney, the more options you will have.
Hurt by Fireworks This Summer?
If you or someone you love was injured by fireworks, you may have the right to seek money for your medical bills, missed work, and pain. Contact us for a free case review — no cost, no obligation to hire us. Don’t let the deadline sneak up on you.
No Fees Unless We Recover Money for You.
Sources
- American Fireworks Standards Laboratory — 2024 Fireworks Annual Report. afsl.org
- ACHI (Arkansas Center for Health Improvement) — Fireworks Injuries in U.S. Increased by 52% in 2024. achi.net
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — CPSC Urges Caution as Fireworks Related Injuries Trend Upward (2024). cpsc.gov
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — CPSC Urges Fireworks Safety Ahead of July 4th Holiday (2025). cpsc.gov
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — 2023 Fireworks Annual Report. cpsc.gov
- AboutLawsuits.com — Fireworks Injuries Affected More Than 14,000 People in 2024. aboutlawsuits.com
- Prevent Blindness — Facts About Fireworks Injuries. preventblindness.org