Fireworks Accidents – Part 1 of 2   

A longtime, extremely popular summer rite is to enjoy setting off fireworks. However, it’s important to think, truly think, before striking a match or using a lighter on your first firecracker, sparkler, smoke-bomb, bottle rocket or other forms of incendiary entertainment. For all their fun, fireworks are capable of causing serious injuries to persons and substantial damage to property. Such losses can have substantial financial consequences, so it’s important to know whether you are insured in the event you cause a fireworks accident.

Examples:

Imagine you are setting off some fireworks in your driveway for your children and their friends. Suddenly, a sparkler you gave to a neighbor’s child violently flares up, burning her hand and face.

While setting off some bottle rockets, one smashes through a window of a house across the street. The rocket sets the home’s living room curtains on fire. It then spreads to the carpeting and the room’s furnishings. The local fire department responds, putting out the fire. There are thousands of dollars in damage caused by fire and water.

In the first example, your Homeowners Policy could cover her injuries a couple of ways. If the injuries are minor, her medical treatment could be handled under the Medical Payments portion. However, if the child’s injuries are more serious and her parents sue, your policy’s liability portion should handle your legal defense as well as a legal judgment.

In the latter example, one could be found negligent for causing the fire and subsequent damage. A homeowners policy usually handles claims such as these. However, you should also be aware of the limitations which will be covered in part two of this topic.

 

                                                                                                                                                                 Continue to section 2 

 

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2016 All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.