The Fourth of July is one of the most celebrated days of the year in South Carolina, and in 2026, it carries extra weight. This Independence Day marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, making it one of the most significant Fourth of July celebrations in American history. Families will pack the beaches, backyard barbecues will fill the Lowcountry air with smoke, boats will line every waterway from the Cooper River to Folly Beach, and fireworks will light up the sky from North Charleston to the Isle of Palms. It is a genuinely great day to be in this state.
It is also statistically one of the most dangerous days of the year in America.
The Thumbs Up Guys are personal injury attorneys rooted right here in the Charleston area. We love the Fourth of July as much as anyone. But we also see, year after year, what happens when the celebrations go wrong: the car crash after the fireworks show, the drowning no one expected, the fall at the cookout that turned into a hospitalization. This guide covers what you need to know to celebrate safely, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Why the Fourth of July Is the Most Dangerous Holiday on the Calendar
Independence Day consistently ranks as one of the deadliest days of the year in the United States, not just for one type of accident, but across several categories simultaneously. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, July 4th averages more car crash deaths than any other date on the calendar over a 17-year study period. The first week of July is also the deadliest week of the year for drunk driving fatalities, according to federal data analyzing five years of crashes. On top of that, July is the single deadliest month of the year for drownings, and fireworks-related emergency room visits surge dramatically in the weeks surrounding the holiday.
What makes Independence Day uniquely dangerous is the combination of factors that come together all at once: extended alcohol consumption across an entire day, large outdoor crowds, heat and physical exertion, water activity, amateur fireworks use, and heavy post-celebration traffic, all on the same night, all at the same time.
In South Carolina, where July temperatures routinely hit the mid-to-upper 90s, where the coast draws enormous crowds, and where consumer fireworks are broadly legal, that risk picture is especially pronounced.
For a free legal consultation, call (843) 380-8350
Fireworks Safety in South Carolina: What’s Legal and What Gets People Hurt
What South Carolina Law Actually Allows
South Carolina is one of the most permissive states in the country when it comes to consumer fireworks. Under S.C. Code of Laws, Title 23, Chapter 35, consumer-grade (Class C) fireworks are legal to purchase and use, including aerial fireworks, mortars, roman candles, multi-shot cakes, and fountains. The minimum purchase age is 16. Small bottle rockets (under 1/2 inch in diameter and 3 inches long) are prohibited, as are ground salutes and “cherry bomb”-style devices that exceed the legal composition limit.
However, South Carolina’s statewide law is just the floor. Your city or county may have stricter rules. Local ordinances in communities like Charleston and Columbia regulate noise and discharge times. Some municipalities restrict fireworks use more broadly. Before you light anything off, check your local city or county ordinance, not just the state law. If you’re in a neighborhood association or a planned community, your HOA covenants may also restrict fireworks regardless of what local law allows.
A few things that catch people off guard:
- Shooting fireworks near dry brush, wooden structures, or parked vehicles is dangerous regardless of whether the fireworks themselves are legal. Property owners can face liability for fireworks-caused fires, and homeowners’ insurance may deny coverage if illegal fireworks were involved.
- Buying from unlicensed sellers increases the risk of receiving illegal or mislabeled devices. South Carolina law requires fireworks retailers to be licensed by the State Board of Pyrotechnic Safety. Look for the permit sticker on the building.
- Local fire bans can go into effect quickly during dry stretches. Check with your local fire department before the holiday if conditions have been dry.
The Injury Picture
The numbers on fireworks injuries have been moving in the wrong direction. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were approximately 13,000 emergency room-treated fireworks injuries in 2025, and 15 reported deaths, continuing a years-long trend of increased harm as consumer fireworks use has grown. The injury data is sobering:
- Burns are the most common injury, making up about 38% of all emergency room visits
- Hands and fingers account for about 35% of injured body parts; head, face, and ears account for another 22%
- Sparklers, which are often given to young children, burn at approximately 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt some metals
- Illegal fireworks, while responsible for only about 14% of injuries, account for more than half of all hospitalizations
The two-thirds of fireworks injuries happen in the month surrounding the Fourth of July. Most of those injuries are preventable.
Fireworks Safety Tips That Actually Matter
- Attend a professional show if you can. Municipalities across the Lowcountry put on professional displays. Watching a professional show eliminates personal fireworks risk entirely. Here are some of our favorites:
- Never hold a firework in your hand or lean over it while lighting. This accounts for a significant share of hand, finger, and facial injuries every year.
- Light one firework at a time, then back away immediately. Never go back to a firework that did not ignite, as it may still be live. Soak it in water before approaching.
- Keep a bucket of water or a running hose nearby at all times when fireworks are in use.
- Keep children well back from the launch area, not just nearby. Young children in particular should not handle sparklers without very close adult supervision and protective gloves.
- Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. If you are going to drink, save the fireworks for earlier in the day, before alcohol is involved.
- Set fireworks off away from dry grass, structures, vehicles, and neighbors’ property. South Carolina’s summer conditions can make fires spread quickly.
If You’re Injured by Someone Else’s Fireworks
If someone else’s negligent or illegal use of fireworks caused your injury, whether it was a neighbor launching something into your yard, a vendor selling defective product, or a property owner who failed to control a fireworks display on their premises, you may have a legal claim. The Thumbs Up Guys provide a free consultation to find out.
Water Safety: Pools, Beaches, Boats, and the Lowcountry
The Fourth of July is peak water season in South Carolina, and the Lowcountry’s coastline, rivers, tidal creeks, and neighborhood pools are all at capacity. July is also, consistently, the deadliest month of the year for drowning deaths in the United States. According to CDC data, roughly 750 to 800 people drown nationally in July alone in an average year, more than any other month. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and a top-three cause of injury death for people ages 5 to 34.
What makes the Fourth of July especially dangerous on the water is the combination of elevated alcohol consumption, large crowds, and the diffusion of responsibility that comes when everyone assumes someone else is watching.
Pool Safety
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance has documented that 88% of child drownings occur with at least one adult present, and 50% of children who drown were within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. Drowning is fast and silent, often going unnoticed until it’s too late. A child can be in distress and submerged within 20 to 60 seconds.
At Fourth of July pool gatherings, where adults are socializing, drinking, watching fireworks, or managing food, and where multiple adults are all assuming “everyone is watching,” no one may be actively supervising. Designate a sober, undistracted water watcher for 15-minute rotations. Give that person a physical object like a wristband or a card so the duty is explicit, not assumed.
Additional pool safety steps:
- Make sure the pool area is gated with a self-closing, self-latching gate on all four sides
- Know where the pool’s emergency shutoff is
- Have a reaching pole and a life ring at the pool
- Know basic CPR- drowning survival rates improve dramatically with immediate bystander response
Beach and Open Water Safety
South Carolina’s beaches and tidal waterways carry specific risks that differ from pools. Rip currents are a leading cause of beach drownings. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore rather than fighting the current back toward the beach; rip currents are typically narrow and you can swim out of one laterally.
Tidal areas, especially around Charleston’s marshes and waterways, have strong currents that can catch swimmers off guard. Alcohol dramatically increases the risk of drowning in open water. Impairment affects swimming ability, judgment, and the ability to self-rescue.
Boating Safety
Independence Day is one of the busiest boating days of the year on South Carolina waterways. In 2022, alcohol remained the leading cause of fatal boating accidents nationally. Among those who drowned in boating incidents, 86% were not wearing life jackets.
Under South Carolina law, life jackets are required for children under age 12 on any moving vessel. But wearing a life jacket is smart for everyone on the water, especially if you plan to consume alcohol. A U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device, properly fitted, is the single most effective piece of safety equipment on any boat.
Boating under the influence (BUI) in South Carolina carries the same penalties as a DUI. A BAC of 0.08% or higher is illegal while operating a vessel. Law enforcement actively patrols waterways on the Fourth of July. Beyond the legal consequences, impaired boating judgment, slower reaction times, and the physical demands of an unexpected fall into the water make BUI genuinely life-threatening.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Drunk Driving on the Fourth: The Numbers Are Stark
The Fourth of July is the second most dangerous holiday of the year for drunk driving, behind only New Year’s Eve. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2020 to 2024, 2,719 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes during the Fourth of July holiday period, and 38% of the drivers killed were drunk. In 2024 alone, 579 people died in crashes during the holiday period.
One study of crash records found that alcohol-related crashes increase by 106% compared to similar weekdays during the Independence Day holiday. The most dangerous window is dusk to midnight; the hours when fireworks shows end and large numbers of people are driving home after a day of celebration. The deadliest hour, nationally, is 10 p.m.
The 21-to-34 age group has the highest percentage of drunk drivers involved in fatal Fourth of July crashes, at 47%, according to NHTSA data.
South Carolina’s DUI Law
In South Carolina, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. For commercial drivers, the limit is 0.04%. For drivers under 21, South Carolina enforces a zero-tolerance policy, meaning any detectable BAC can result in a DUI charge. A first-offense DUI can carry up to 90 days in jail, a six-month license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education requirements, in addition to fines.
“Buzzed driving” is drunk driving. Even a BAC of 0.02%, or the result of one or two drinks for many people, can impair the ability to perform two tasks simultaneously, which is a core demand of driving.
Planning for a Sober Ride Home
The best time to plan a sober ride home is before you start drinking, not after. Arrange rideshare ahead of time, identify a designated driver before the first drink is poured, or walk to the fireworks show if you can. The Thumbs Up Guys are proud to offer free Uber vouchers for the Fourth of July through our community partnership program. Grab yours before the holiday.
If You’re Hit by a Drunk Driver
If an impaired driver injures you on the Fourth of July, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. The steps that matter most in the immediate aftermath:
- Call 911. Request law enforcement and medical assistance. The police report documenting the other driver’s impairment is a critical piece of evidence.
- Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks pain. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and soft tissue injuries often don’t present obvious symptoms for hours or days.
- Document the scene. Photographs of both vehicles, road conditions, any visible damage, and any other relevant context.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company, not the other driver’s and not your own, before speaking with an attorney.
- Contact The Thumbs Up Guys. We handle drunk driving crash cases throughout the Charleston area and across South Carolina.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Heat Safety in South Carolina’s July
Charleston in early July averages highs in the low-to-mid 90s, with humidity levels that make the heat index feel significantly hotter. Spending a full day outside, whether at the beach, at a barbecue, at a parade, or watching fireworks, means many hours of heat exposure, often combined with alcohol (which accelerates dehydration) and physical activity.
Heat illness exists on a spectrum. According to South Carolina’s own Department of Public Health, there were more than 1,800 emergency department visits for heat-related illness in the state in a single season. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can develop rapidly, particularly in children, older adults, and anyone with chronic health conditions.
Recognizing Heat Illness
Heat exhaustion signs: heavy sweating, nausea, weakness, dizziness, headache, and cool, pale, moist skin. This is the warning. If you or someone with you shows these signs, get to a shaded or air-conditioned space, rehydrate with water or a sports drink, and apply cool, wet towels.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs include body temperature above 103°F, flushed and hot skin, confusion or altered mental status, rapid breathing, and loss of consciousness. The person may have stopped sweating. Call 911 immediately. Move the person to shade, remove excess clothing, and begin active cooling with ice packs, cool water, or wet towels while waiting for emergency responders.
Heat stroke can cause permanent brain damage or death if not treated immediately.
Heat Safety Tips for a South Carolina Fourth of July
- Hydrate before you feel thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already behind. Drink water consistently throughout the day, especially if you’re in direct sun.
- Alcohol and heat are a dangerous combination. Alcohol accelerates dehydration. If you’re drinking, increase your water intake proportionally.
- Limit strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat hours (typically 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in July). Schedule outdoor activities earlier in the morning or later in the evening.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and use sunscreen. Sunburn reduces the skin’s ability to regulate heat.
- Never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle. According to South Carolina Public Health, a car can heat up by 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes, even with outside temperatures in the 70s. This can be lethal.
- Check on elderly neighbors and relatives who may not have air conditioning or may be reluctant to ask for help. Older adults are among the most vulnerable to heat stroke.
Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards at Cookouts and Outdoor Events
Property owners, including homeowners who host Fourth of July parties, have a legal duty under South Carolina premises liability law to maintain reasonably safe conditions for their guests. When that duty is not met and someone is injured as a result, it may form the basis of a legal claim.
Fourth of July gatherings create specific hazards that normal everyday conditions don’t:
- Wet surfaces around pools, coolers, and drink stations. Spilled drinks and water from pool traffic leave surfaces slick, especially on decks, patios, and around pool ladders.
- Uneven outdoor terrain. Grassy areas, garden hoses, extension cords for lighting, tent stakes, and portable grill equipment all create tripping hazards that guests in flip-flops or open-toed shoes may not see in dim evening light.
- Crowded spaces. When more people are in a space than it comfortably holds, collisions, falls, and injuries become more likely.
- Post-dark fireworks areas. Yards and open areas used for fireworks viewing are often lit poorly, and spent fireworks debris on the ground creates tripping hazards.
- Alcohol and fall risk. Alcohol impairs balance, reaction time, and the ability to recognize and avoid hazards. Fall risk increases significantly when alcohol is involved.
If You’re Injured at a Fourth of July Gathering
- Report the injury to the property owner and ask that it be documented. Get names and contact information.
- Photograph the specific hazard that caused your injury before it is cleaned up or moved.
- Collect witness information. Get names and numbers from anyone who saw what happened.
- Seek medical attention and document your injuries.
- Call The Thumbs Up Guys. We handle premises liability claims for slip-and-fall and other injuries across the Charleston area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most dangerous time on the Fourth of July for car accidents?
According to NHTSA data, the most dangerous window for crashes on Independence Day is between dusk and midnight, typically 9 p.m. to midnight, when fireworks shows are ending and large numbers of people are driving home after extended alcohol consumption. The single deadliest hour nationally is 10 p.m.
Are consumer fireworks legal in South Carolina?
Yes, broadly. South Carolina allows most consumer-grade (Class C) fireworks, including aerial fireworks, mortars, roman candles, multi-shot cakes, and fountains. Purchasers must be at least 16 years old. Small bottle rockets (under 1/2 inch diameter and 3 inches long) and ground salutes (cherry bombs) are prohibited. Local ordinances may impose additional restrictions on times or locations, so check your city or county rules before the holiday.
What should I do if I’m hit by a drunk driver on the Fourth of July?
Call 911 immediately and request both law enforcement and medical assistance. Seek medical attention even if you feel okay in the moment. Document the scene with photographs. Do not give any recorded statement to any insurance company before consulting an attorney. Contact The Thumbs Up Guys as soon as possible, we can protect your rights from the very first call.
My child drowned at someone else’s pool party. Do I have a legal claim?
Possibly. Pool owners in South Carolina have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions, including proper fencing, functioning gates, and reasonable supervision measures. If their failure to meet that duty contributed to your child’s injury, you may have a premises liability claim. These cases are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Contact us immediately for a free consultation.
What are the signs of heat stroke and what should I do?
Heat stroke signs include body temperature above 103°F, flushed and hot skin, confusion, rapid breathing, and possible loss of consciousness. The person may have stopped sweating. This is a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help, move the person to shade, remove excess clothing, and apply cool water, ice packs, or wet towels to bring their body temperature down.
If I slipped and fell at someone’s Fourth of July party, can I sue the homeowner?
South Carolina law may allow a claim against a property owner if their negligence, such as a wet, unmarked surface or an obvious hazard left uncorrected, caused your injury. Whether you have a viable claim depends on the specific circumstances. Contact The Thumbs Up Guys for a free case evaluation.
How much does it cost to hire The Thumbs Up Guys?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid when you receive compensation. There is no fee for your initial consultation and no financial risk in calling us.
If Something Goes Wrong: The Thumbs Up Guys Are Here
The Fourth of July only comes once a year. You should be able to celebrate it fully, and if something goes wrong because of someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or impairment, you shouldn’t have to navigate the aftermath alone.
We handle:
- Drunk driving and DUI crash cases
- Pedestrian accidents near fireworks events and crowded venues
- Slip-and-fall and premises liability claims at private homes and public venues
- Fireworks-related injuries caused by another party’s negligence
- Heat-related illness connected to event organizer or employer negligence
- All personal injury cases throughout the Charleston, North Charleston, Summerville, Columbia, and South Carolina areas
You don’t pay anything unless we win. We work entirely on contingency, meaning there is no upfront cost, no hourly fee, and no financial risk in calling us. We are available 24/7.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form today.
Call or text (843) 380-8350 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
