Fireworks Injury trial: The Haggard Law Firm Secures Nearly $900,000 Verdict for RV Park Guest Burned During Fourth of July Celebration
A Florida jury awarded nearly $900,000 to a woman who suffered serious burn injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after fireworks were negligently allowed at an RV park during a Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaels and Adam Finkel tried the case in Flagler County, Florida.
The case demonstrates that pain, emotional trauma, and lasting psychological injuries deserve recognition even when physical scars fade. Through extensive investigation and trial advocacy, The Haggard Law Firm proved a Florida RV park failed to take reasonable steps to protect its guests from a foreseeable danger: the misuse of fireworks during one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year.
A Fourth of July Celebration Turned Into a Preventable Tragedy
Four years before trial, Darlene Alvarez traveled from Miami to Flagler Beach to celebrate Independence Day with family and friends.
Her uncle had rented an RV space at Flagler by the Sea, a coastal RV park in Flagler Beach, Florida. Like thousands of families celebrating the holiday, they expected to enjoy a safe holiday weekend together.
Instead, another guest launched fireworks on the beach near the campground.
One firework unexpectedly shot sideways, striking Darlene in the chest and causing severe burn injuries. She suffered:
- Second-degree burns to her chest
- Burns to her neck
- Burns to her hand
- She was rushed for medical treatment and began a long, painful recovery.
Months of Painful Medical Treatment
Although Darlene ultimately made a strong physical recovery, her treatment was extensive.
Over the following six months, she underwent:
- Emergency burn treatment
- Cadaver skin graft procedures
- Natural skin graft surgeries
- Ongoing wound care
- Follow-up medical treatment
Her medical expenses totaled $94,507.47.
Fortunately, the grafts were successful, and by the time of trial, she required no additional medical care and had no permanent physical limitations. To an outside observer, her scars had largely faded.
But the most significant injuries were no longer visible.
PTSD and Emotional Trauma Continued Long After the Burns Healed
While Darlene’s physical wounds improved, the emotional effects remained.
According to testimony presented at trial, the once outgoing and social woman became withdrawn following the incident.
Family members described dramatic changes in her personality.
She:
- Avoided social gatherings
- Declined family dinners
- Experienced persistent anxiety
- Continued struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Her case became a powerful reminder that catastrophic injuries are not measured solely by permanent scars or ongoing medical treatment. Psychological trauma can continue affecting every aspect of a person’s life long after physical healing has occurred.
Why Was the RV Park Found Negligent?
The central legal issue involved whether Flagler by the Sea took reasonable steps to protect guests from a foreseeable danger.
The investigation conducted by The Haggard Law Firm established that the RV park understood guests were likely to use fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday.
The park acknowledged that fireworks posed a danger to other guests and that reasonable precautions were necessary.
However, discovery revealed those precautions were never meaningfully implemented.
The Evidence Presented at Trial
Flagler-by-the-Sea claimed it prohibited fireworks through emails and posted rules.
The evidence told a different story.
At trial, The Haggard Law Firm demonstrated that:
- Guests were generally not informed about any fireworks prohibition.
- Fireworks restrictions were not actively enforced.
- Staff took no meaningful steps to prevent guests from bringing or using fireworks.
- Unless a guest specifically asked whether fireworks were permitted, little or no guidance was provided.
The jury ultimately concluded that the campground failed to exercise reasonable care to protect its guests. The RV park was found negligent and legally responsible for Darlene’s injuries.
The Biggest Challenge Was Not Liability—It Was Damages
Winning a negligence case requires proving two separate issues:
- The defendant was negligent.
- The plaintiff’s damages fairly compensate for the harm suffered.
In this case, liability was established. he greater challenge involved helping the jury understand injuries that were largely invisible by the time of trial.
Several factors made the damages case particularly difficult:
- Trial occurred approximately four years after the incident.
- The burns had largely healed.
- Darlene had no physical restrictions.
- She required no future medical treatment.
- She had returned to work.
- She had taken vacations after the incident.
The defense argued these facts meant her damages should be limited primarily to:
- Past medical expenses
- Pain experienced during the first six months after the injury
Showing the Jury That Healing Is More Than Physical
Attorneys Michaels and Finkel focused on telling the complete story of Darlene’s recovery.
Through testimony from physicians and family members, they demonstrated the intense suffering she endured during the months following the incident.
The jury heard about:
- The severe pain from the initial burns
- Painful skin graft procedures
- Multiple medical treatments
- Physical recovery
- Emotional humiliation
Jurors also learned about moments that medical records alone could never fully capture. During her recovery, Darlene required assistance with the most basic daily activities.
She depended on her mother for personal care and was bathed by her own daughter, an experience that profoundly affected her dignity and emotional well-being.
Not Every Serious Injury Is Visible
Throughout jury selection, opening statements, witness testimony, and closing arguments, Michaels and Finkel emphasized one central truth:
Some of the most serious injuries cannot be seen.
The attorneys encouraged jurors to consider not only Darlene’s physical recovery but also the ongoing emotional consequences of the incident.
Her PTSD, anxiety, and lasting emotional trauma continued affecting her years after her burns had healed. The jury was reminded that the law recognizes both physical and emotional suffering when determining fair compensation.
A Nearly $900,000 Jury Verdict
Trying any personal injury case presents challenges. Trying one in a conservative venue with minimal visible injuries years after the incident can be especially difficult.
Despite those obstacles, The Haggard Law Firm successfully demonstrated the full impact the incident had on Darlene’s life. The jury returned a verdict of nearly $900,000 ($829,507.47).
The outcome also serves as an important reminder that insurance companies often undervalue claims by focusing primarily on medical expenses while overlooking the very real human consequences of pain, trauma, and emotional suffering.
Why This Verdict Matters
This case reinforces several important legal principles:
- Property owners must take reasonable steps to protect guests from foreseeable dangers.
- Holiday events do not excuse negligent safety practices.
- Emotional trauma and PTSD are legitimate components of personal injury damages.
- A person’s injuries should not be judged solely by visible scars.
- Every injured person deserves to have the full impact of their experience heard and evaluated.
For Darlene Alvarez, the verdict represented accountability for a preventable incident that changed her life.
The Haggard Law Firm has spent decades representing victims of negligence throughout Florida and across the country. Whether a case involves unsafe property conditions, negligent security, catastrophic injuries, or wrongful death, our attorneys are committed to holding negligent parties accountable and pursuing justice through trial for injured individuals and their families.
If you or a loved one has been injured because a property owner failed to maintain a safe environment, contact The Haggard Law Firm to discuss your legal rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can an RV park or campground be held liable for fireworks injuries?
- Yes. Property owners may be liable if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable dangers, including the unsafe use of fireworks, particularly during holidays when such activity is reasonably anticipated.
- Can I recover compensation for PTSD after an accident?
- Yes. Florida law recognizes emotional injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and mental anguish as recoverable damages when supported by the evidence.
- Do visible scars determine the value of a personal injury case?
- No. While physical injuries are important, courts and juries may also consider pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, and other non-economic damages.
- What should I do if I am injured on someone else’s property?
- Seek immediate medical attention, document the scene if possible, preserve evidence, report the incident to the property owner or manager, and consult an experienced premises liability attorney as soon as possible.
