While firearms can be a fun source of recreation and valuable tool for self-defense, a gunshot injury can result in life-changing injuries or wrongful death in the blink of an eye. A gunshot victim may suffer severe injuries including loss of blood, spinal cord injuries, severe damage to internal organs and wrongful death.

Firearms can become extremely dangerous when used by those who are careless or inexperienced. Gunshot injuries cause the death of someone every fifteen minutes and another hundred thousand people are injured annually in a shooting incident. While most are the results of criminal acts, some of these firearm injuries are the result of hunting accidents, unsecured firearms, defective firearms and accidental shootings by those who lack the experience or skill to safely use a firearm.

If you are injured in a firearm incident caused by the intentional or negligent conduct of a third party or a defective firearm, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your injuries or loss. Some of the common types of negligent or intentional misconduct that may form the basis for a firearm accident lawsuit include the following:

  • Intentional shootings
  • Accidental shootings at shooting ranges
  • Gunshot injuries caused by careless gun owners
  • Hunting accidents
  • Shootings involving children when guns are not properly secured
  • Injuries caused by defective firearm components
  • Firearm accidents involving use of drugs or alcohol

Accidental shootings often involve negligence by a firearm owner who fails to take a gun safety course or does not take appropriate steps to safeguard one’s gun from curious children. If a gun is not secured in a gun safe and/or equipped with a trigger lock, tragedies can occur because children do not understand and fully appreciate the danger posed by firearms that are not secured.

The type of gunshot injury suffered depends on a number of factors including the type of gun, bullet and the angle the bullet enters the body. If the bullet strikes a person but does not penetrate the skin, the injury is referred to as a grazing injury. When the bullet enters the body by penetrating the skin and becoming lodged in the body, it is called a penetrating gunshot wound. When a bullet both enters the body and also exits the body at another point, the injury is called a perforating wound.

If you suffer a gunshot wound caused by an intentional shooting, accidental shooting or a defective, malfunctioning firearm, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or wrongful death. Our Georgia firearm injury attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.