Las Vegas, NV (June 25th, 2025) – Every year, fireworks light up the skies over Las Vegas. But, not all of them are legal, and not all of them are safe. Ahead of the Fourth of July, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confiscated nearly 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, many of them imported, unlabeled, or sold through unauthorized channels.
This isn’t the first time Southern Nevada has taken steps to address firework accidents and legal liability in Nevada. But the scale of the recent seizure underscores the seriousness of the problem. They highlight a growing public safety issue: defective or mislabeled fireworks that can cause serious injuries, even when used correctly. When that happens, liability can extend beyond the person who lit the fuse.
Firework Product Liability: Illegal vs. Defective Fireworks Explained
Many consumers assume that if a firework is illegal, the injury must be the user’s fault. But that’s not always the case. In Nevada, there’s a legal distinction between a prohibited item and a product that’s dangerous because of how it was made, sold, or labeled.
How Fireworks Become Illegal in Nevada
In Clark County and most surrounding areas, aerial fireworks and explosive devices are banned for general use. Only safe and sane fireworks are permitted in specific locations, like Pahrump. Yet every summer, banned products end up in neighborhoods across the Las Vegas Valley.
Much of this comes from illegal sales, such as unlicensed pop-up tents, social media transactions, and out-of-state or online sellers who skirt local regulations. Just because a firework is purchased doesn’t mean it’s legal.
Defective Doesn’t Always Mean Illegal
A separate and often overlooked danger involves fireworks that are legally sold but dangerously manufactured. A firework may be defective if it fails to work as expected, includes poor instructions, or uses unstable materials. These flaws can result in consumer product injuries, and trigger product liability claims, even if the firework was technically legal.
Suing for Firework Injuries in Las Vegas: What If the Product Was Imported or Unlabeled?
If a firework was unlabeled, malfunctioned, or exploded unpredictably, you may have a valid legal claim. The case doesn’t need to hinge solely on whether the firework was illegal. Instead, the focus shifts to the condition and origin of the product.
Fireworks Without Labels or Instructions
When fireworks are sold without safety warnings, usage instructions, or manufacturer details, they pose a serious risk to consumers. Without knowing how long the fuse burns, how far the shell launches, or what the blast radius is, even a careful user can get hurt.
Fireworks Explosions Caused by Product Failures
Injuries often happen when fireworks explode prematurely or launch unpredictably. These aren’t necessarily user mistakes. Rather, they’re often signs of poor quality control. A firework that explodes at ground level or burns faster than expected may have a design flaw or manufacturing defect, both of which can support a lawsuit.
Firework Injury Lawsuits: Retailer and Distributor Liability in Nevada
While imported fireworks are often the source of danger, that doesn’t mean Nevada-based sellers are legally in the clear. If they sell defective or mislabeled products, they may share responsibility.
The Role of the Seller in Firework Liability Cases
Retailers have a legal obligation to ensure that the products they sell meet safety standards. That includes confirming whether a firework is approved for consumer use and properly labeled. When a store, or even an individual, sells fireworks that are mislabeled, dangerous, or fail to meet legal safety standards, they may be named in a product liability lawsuit.
Distributors and Supply Chains
Distributors who move large quantities of fireworks into Nevada from other states or countries may also be held accountable. If they ignored safety testing, failed to label the product in English, or knowingly passed along faulty items, that chain of responsibility matters in court.
Filing a Firework Injury Claim in Nevada: What to Know
If you were hurt by a firework, whether at a public event, a backyard gathering, or in your own driveway, you’re likely dealing with more than just physical recovery. Medical bills pile up fast. Missed work, lasting pain, and visible scarring only make things harder. A product liability claim may allow you to recover compensation after an accident, including medical costs, lost income, and long-term care.
What many people don’t realize is that not all firework injuries are caused by user error. If the firework malfunctioned, exploded too early, or didn’t match its label, you may have grounds for a product liability claim. Even if you’re unsure what brand or type of firework it was, it’s still worth investigating.
What to Do After a Firework Injury
Now that you’re home from the hospital or urgent care, you may be wondering whether there’s anything you can, or should, do to protect your rights. Here’s where to start:
Look for Product Packaging or Fragments
If you still have any part of the firework, packaging, debris, or even photos or video from the night, it may be useful. Injuries from unlabeled or imported fireworks are common, and any detail about what the firework looked like or how it functioned can help build a case.
If someone else still has the box or bought the fireworks for the event, reach out. The more information your attorney has, the better.
Document Your Medical Treatment and Costs
Keep records of your treatment, from the first ER visit to any follow-ups or surgeries. If you suffered burn injuries and needed care, such as skin grafts or stitches, those details matter. So do your out-of-pocket costs, prescription receipts, and time missed from work. This documentation helps establish damages in a personal injury case.
Write Down What Happened
Even if it seems obvious now, memories fade. Make a quick write-up of how the injury happened while it’s still fresh in your mind. Include who was there, what the firework did, and whether anyone else was hurt or witnessed the incident.
Don’t Assume You Were at Fault
Many people dismiss firework injuries as accidents. However, if the product didn’t function the way it was supposed to, you may not be the one responsible. A firework that explodes at ground level, burns unpredictably, or launches sideways may be defective, regardless of who lit the fuse.
Speak With a Product Liability Attorney
Every firework injury is unique, and liability can be complicated. A Las Vegas product liability lawyer can help determine whether the injury was caused by a design defect, manufacturing flaw, or failure to warn.
There’s no cost to speak with a lawyer, and if you have a case, they can deal with the manufacturers, insurance companies, or sellers while you focus on recovery.
Legal Support After a Firework Injury in Las Vegas
The trauma of a firework injury doesn’t end when the smoke clears. You may be left with lasting pain, mounting medical bills, and questions about how it happened in the first place. If the firework was defective, mislabeled, or sold illegally, the injury may not have been your fault—and you shouldn’t have to bear the consequences alone.
At George Bochanis Injury Law Offices, we help victims in Las Vegas hold manufacturers, distributors, and sellers accountable for unsafe products. Whether you were hurt during a holiday celebration or a neighborhood gathering, we can investigate the cause and help you understand your legal options.
Call 702-388-2005 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights, and help you decide what steps make sense for you.
