2 Injured in Fireworks Accidents on Long Island During Fourth of July

Two people on Long Island were severely injured in separate fireworks-related accidents during Fourth of July celebrations.

In one incident, a Suffolk County man lost three fingers on his left hand in an accident that occurred at about 11:30 p.m. in Gordon Heights. The 26-year-old man reportedly had lit off a firework that exploded before he could properly get rid of it.

In the other incident, a 73-year-old woman in Mastic lost the tip of a finger and injured several others on her right hand when she accidentally set off a firework while placing a lit cigarette in an ashtray. She was treated for her injuries at Stony Brook University Medical Center.

Fireworks present a serious safety hazard

Most municipalities have strict rules about where fireworks can or cannot be lit off. The last couple years, New Yorkers have gotten extra warnings about the dangers of lighting off fireworks after the high-profile accident of former New York Giants star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who shared photos online of his mangled hand from a Fourth of July fireworks accident in 2015 as a warning to others.

Considering how dangerous fireworks can be, it’s important for anyone using them to exercise extreme caution at all times. Anyone who is injured by fireworks due to the negligence or illegal use of them by another party may be able to seek compensation through a personal injury claim.

To learn more about moving forward with a personal injury claim, meet with a trusted accident attorney at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP.