Written by Minal Popat, Senior Associate Solicitor · SRA-regulated · Last reviewed 8 October 2026
Short answer: You can claim compensation for a firework injury in England and Wales if someone else’s negligence caused it. That might be the organiser of a display, the manufacturer or importer of a faulty firework, a shop that sold fireworks to a child, or the person hosting a private party. You normally have three years from the date of the injury to bring a claim, or until a child’s 21st birthday.
Firework season is upon us. As darkness gathers earlier, fireworks seem to be everywhere: watch out for the neighbours who throw a fireworks party for Halloween or Guy Fawkes night / Bonfire night – rockets race into the night, fountains throw showers of colour across gardens and sudden cracks roll from street to street. Behind this spectacle, however, the NHS hospitals are busy treating people for burns, eye injuries and hand injuries, many of them children. Most firework accidents are avoidable and, where an injury occurs because someone failed to take reasonable care, the injured person may be entitled to compensation for their injuries, lost earnings and the cost of treatment and care.
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Can I Claim Compensation for a Firework Injury?
You can claim if three things are true:
- Someone owed you a duty of care (a display organiser, venue, manufacturer, retailer or host).
- They breached that duty, for example by placing the crowd too close, failing to fence off the firing area or selling a defective product.
- That breach caused your injury.
You do not need to prove that anyone intended to hurt you. Carelessness is enough. This may include failing to keep spectators at a safe distance, allowing children to handle fireworks, ignoring the manufacturer’s instructions, using fireworks in an unsuitable space, or failing to supervise the display properly. The key question is whether the person responsible acted as a reasonably careful organiser, retailer, manufacturer or host would have acted in the same circumstances. If that failure caused your injury, you may have grounds to bring a claim.
Who Can I Claim Against?
The organiser of a public display
Organisers of public and ticketed displays, including councils, schools, clubs and event companies, must carry out a risk assessment and keep spectators a safe distance from the firing area. Common failures include barriers placed too close, rockets launched towards the crowd, poor stewarding and allowing members of the public to bring their own fireworks. Claims are usually paid by the organiser’s public liability insurance.
The manufacturer or importer of a faulty firework
Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, the producer of a defective product is liable for the injury it causes without you needing to prove negligence. Where a firework was made abroad, the UK importer can be held responsible. A firework that explodes early, travels in the wrong direction or fails to follow its labelled behaviour may be defective.
Always keep the packaging, the remains of the firework and the receipt. They are often the key evidence in a product claim.
A shop that sold fireworks to a child
It is an offence to sell adult fireworks to anyone under 18. If a retailer sold fireworks to a young person who was then injured, or who injured someone else, the retailer may share responsibility.
The host of a private party or a neighbour
If you were hurt at a garden party or by a neighbour’s fireworks, the person responsible may be covered by the public liability section of their home insurance. Many people do not realise this, and it means a claim does not have to come out of a friend’s pocket.
An employer
If you were injured while working at a display, for example as a steward or member of the firing crew, your employer has a duty to provide training, protective equipment and a safe system of work. See our page on workplace accident claims.
What Are the Rules on Fireworks in England and Wales?
The Fireworks Regulations 2004 still apply in 2026:
- Fireworks must not be set off between 11pm and 7am.
- The curfew is extended to midnight on Bonfire Night (5 November), and to 1am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.
- Under-18s must not possess adult fireworks in a public place.
- It is an offence to let off fireworks in a street or public place.
Breaking these rules does not automatically mean you can claim, but it is strong evidence that someone was not taking proper care.
What Injuries Do Fireworks Cause?
- Burns to the hands, face and body, sometimes needing skin grafts
- Eye injuries, from corneal damage to permanent loss of sight
- Hand and finger injuries, including amputation
- Hearing damage and tinnitus from blasts at close range
- Psychological injury, including PTSD and anxiety, particularly after a serious accident or for children
Compensation reflects the severity of the injury and its effect on your life, plus financial losses such as lost earnings, travel, treatment, therapy and care provided by family.
What Evidence Should I Keep After a Firework Accident?
- Get medical treatment straight away and keep your A&E and GP records.
- Photograph your injuries as they heal, the scene, barriers and signage.
- Keep the firework, its packaging and any receipt.
- Take names and contact details of witnesses.
- Save videos: other spectators may have filmed the moment on their phones.
- Report it to the organiser, venue or council in writing, and keep a copy.
- Keep receipts for every expense, from prescriptions to taxi fares.
How Long Do I Have To Make a Firework Injury Claim?
- Adults: three years from the date of the injury.
- Children: three years from their 18th birthday, so until they turn 21. A parent can claim on their behalf at any time before that.
- Faulty products: the three-year rule applies, but there is also an absolute 10-year cut-off from when the product was put into circulation.
Starting early is always better. Evidence such as CCTV, risk assessments and witness memories disappears quickly.
Can a Parent Claim for a Child Injured by a Firework?
Yes. A parent or guardian acts as the child’s “litigation friend”. Any settlement must be approved by the court to make sure it is in the child’s best interests, and the money is usually held safely until the child turns 18.
How Does No Win No Fee Work for Firework Claims?
Most firework injury claims are run under a conditional fee agreement (no win, no fee). If the claim does not succeed, you do not pay our fees. If it succeeds, the success fee is capped by law at 25% of the compensation for your pain and suffering and past losses. We explain the exact terms in writing before you sign anything.
Frequently Asked Questions / Questions & Answers
Can I claim if I was injured at a private firework party?
Yes, if the host was careless. Claims of this kind are often paid by the host’s home insurance rather than by the host personally.
Can I claim if a firework was thrown at me in the street?
If the person responsible can be identified, you can claim against them. Where the injury was caused by a criminal act and the person cannot be traced, you may be able to apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
What if I was partly to blame?
You can still claim. Your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility, but it is not lost.
How much compensation will I get?
It depends on the type and severity of the injury, how long recovery takes and your financial losses. We can give you an early estimate once we have seen your medical records.
Speak to a Firework Injury Solicitor
If you or your child has been hurt by a firework, our personal injury team can tell you quickly whether you have a claim. Call +44 (0)20 3588 3500 or send us an enquiry. Our team is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
