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Guy Fawkes' Night – Revels Not Risks

With Guy Fawkes' Night only a few days away, Rupert Chichester of Grant Saw Solicitors offers advice on how to make sure you have a good time whilst minimising the risk of injury or damage to your property or the property of others.

The biggest risk is injury caused by a firework. In 2005, the last year for which such statistics were collected, there were 990 firework injuries in the UK. If your careless or reckless use of a firework causes injury to another person, you could find yourself facing a claim for compensation.

However, injury is not the only risk. Insurance claims arising from incidents on November 5th increase by 50 per cent compared with an average day. As well as claims for an injury to another person, every year sees a spate of claims for broken windows, garden damage and damage caused by fire spreading to homes or outbuildings.

Comments Rupert Chichester "November 5th is the second worst day of the year for fire-related claims – only Christmas Day has more – so homeowners are advised to double check their insurance cover before lighting a bonfire near their property or setting off any fireworks. Also, Bonfire Night is historically one of the most lucrative nights of the year for burglars, so don't neglect your home security by making it easy for a thief to come and go whilst you are enjoying a firework display in the back garden."

It is safer to enjoy Guy Fawkes' Night at an organised event. Local authorities encourage people to attend community displays, for which there are codes of practice. Your local council’s Trading Standards office is the place to call if you are concerned about what seems to be an unauthorised bonfire in the making. Trading Standards officers also enforce the rules regarding storing and selling fireworks. However, plenty seem to end up in the wrong hands and if fireworks are being used in a dangerous way, you should call the police. Vigilance on the part of the public is also helpful for councils, who tend to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in the run up to Bonfire Night. Dumped rubbish can become a magnet to arsonists who find it amusing to set it alight, putting nearby buildings and residents at risk.

The Safe Firework Displays website has issued a list of practical pointers for those considering having a firework party – see http://www.safe-firework-displays.co.uk/.

Whether you are planning a community event or just having a private firework display at home, the Government has sound advice on fireworks and bonfires. This can be found on the website of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform at http://www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks/.

For more information visit our litigation department >

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