New Year’s Eve in Georgia brings neighborhood shows, backyard sparklers, and big countdowns—and, every year, a spike in burns and blast injuries. In 2024, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 14,700 fireworks-related injuries nationwide and 11 deaths, with hands, fingers, and the head/face most often injured. Sparklers—often handed to kids—were tied to an estimated 1,700 ER visits on their own.
Georgia generally allows consumer fireworks from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., with local noise rules still applying, and extends hours around New Year’s. State rules and code recognize late-night use on December 31/January 1, but city and county nuances (and drought restrictions) can still affect when and where you can light them. Bottom line: check local rules before you start.
Why these injuries happen
Sparklers burn at roughly 2,000°F, hot enough to melt some metals. That heat, plus crowded driveways and alcohol at celebrations, creates a perfect storm for burns, eye injuries, and hand trauma. National fire-safety groups even recommend skipping consumer fireworks entirely in favor of professional shows.
What to do right after a fireworks injury
• Get medical care now. Burns worsen fast—urgent care or an ER visit creates treatment and documentation.
• Preserve the evidence. Photograph the device, packaging, fuse, instructions, and the scene. Keep any remaining pieces in a safe container.
• Record witnesses. Get names, short statements, and phone numbers.
• Report it. If a device malfunctioned, note the brand and seller; call local authorities if appropriate.
• Avoid posting. Social clips can be taken out of context by insurers.
• Call a lawyer early. Exploding devices trigger complex product liability and premises liability questions; fast investigation protects your claim. (Georgia PI cases generally have a two-year filing deadline.)
Who may be legally responsible
Depending on what happened, liability may rest with:
• A manufacturer or seller if a device was defectively designed, manufactured, or mislabeled. (Georgia also has a 10-year product liability statute of repose measured from a product’s first sale for use—another reason to move quickly.)
• A property owner or event host if unsafe conditions—like forcing spectators too close, poor crowd control, or lack of barriers—contributed to the injury.
• An individual user whose negligent handling caused harm.
Safety tips that also protect your claim
• Create distance. Use a clear launch area with spectators well back; never allow children to handle sparklers.
• Use legal consumer-grade products only. Avoid unlabeled or “pro” items; illegal or modified devices dramatically raise injury risk.
• Have water ready and one-at-a-time lighting. Don’t relight duds; soak and discard.
• Know your local hours. New Year’s has extended windows, but noise and drought orders can still limit use.
How Gunn Law Group builds these cases
We move fast to secure photos, packaging, receipts, and witness statements; request surveillance and 911 audio; and coordinate specialists when needed (burn surgeons, human-factors experts, and product engineers). For defective devices, we examine supply chains and labeling; for event injuries, we look at crowd-control plans, spacing, and property maintenance. Our goal is simple: prove what went wrong, show how it changed your life, and push insurers to pay full value.
If a New Year’s celebration left you or your child injured, don’t try to navigate this alone. Need a home run? Call the Big Gunn at 888-BIG-GUNN or visit thegunnlawgroup.com for a free case review today.
