A lot can go wrong whenever a hunter or shooter uses their firearm.
Thankfully, in most cases, these malfunctions at worst will mean a person has to replace their gun, but even that is an expensive proposition.
Sadly, though, too many gun injuries happen because a firearm fails catastrophically.
These sorts of injuries can leave those in the greater Bozeman area as well as visitors to our state with costly medical bills and lost income. Some of these injuries can be debilitating or even fatal.
All of them in a way put a black mark on the outdoor sports many Montanans love and enjoy.
There are some types of firearm failures which tend to lead to serious injuries:
- Ammunition can get stuck in the barrel of the gun. If the user fires again, then the firearm could explode.
- In some cases, a malfunction can cause a weapon to fire well after the user pulls the trigger.
- Sometimes, even if the projectile leaves the firearm normally, the cartridge fails to eject. Re-loading in these circumstances could cause the gun to explode.
- There have been other types of catastrophic firearm failures. For example, some Remington rifles had a known defect which caused them to discharge without a trigger pull. This problem has led to tragic results after rifles fired unexpectedly.
Victims of defective firearms may be entitled to compensation
Montanans who use firearms recreationally should do so safely and according to instructions.
Too often, though, tragic firearms accidents happen because of a mechanical or design problem with the gun itself. Severe injuries can impact even those who diligently practice gun safety.
Victims in this type of situation should evaluate their legal options. They may be able to receive compensation for their injuries both from the manufacturer of the weapon and other responsible parties.