Hunting Accidents Lawyers in Austin
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Hunting is a popular sport throughout the United States. This includes the Austin area with its many gun and hunt clubs and private hunting areas. While many hunters take their sport seriously, others have not been trained in the safe operation of a gun or bow, or don’t know the first thing about hunting etiquette. As a result, hunting accidents happen frequently. There are many causes for hunting accidents including human error, defective or malfunctioning equipment and weapons, and hunter on hunter shootings. Sadly, hundreds of people are unnecessarily injured and killed every year as a result.
Human Error
Many hunting accidents are the result of human error. Sometimes this means the hunter was careless with their weapon and it fell over and discharged. Or the hunter shot across a road or near an occupied building and injured another person. And sometimes, the hunter is tired after a long day of hunting or just feeling anxious to get one shot in and discharges their weapon as a result. Common causes of hunting accidents include:
- The accidental discharge of a weapon
- Shooting at an animal, but missing and hitting a person
- Mistaking a person for a wild animal and shooting at them
In addition, when hunters walk carelessly or run with a loaded weapon, jump fences or climb trees while armed, they can accidentally discharge their weapon – and people are injured or killed as a result.
Defective or Malfunctioning Weapons
Another common cause of hunting injuries can be attributed to malfunctioning or defective hunting equipment. Listed below are some common malfunctions or defects that a hunter may encounter:
- Defective deer blinds
- Tree stand collapse
- Gun or bow misfire
- Defective safety mechanism
When a weapon hasn’t been designed or manufactured properly, severe injuries and fatalities can result. This can include a defective safety or trigger mechanism that causes a weapon to discharge unexpectedly, or a defect in the bolt, sear, firing pin or hammer that causes a weapon to discharge or backfire on the hunter. Or, it could be an unusually sensitive firing mechanism that causes the weapon to discharge when it is accidentally dropped.
While defective or malfunctioning equipment or weapons can be complicated cases to prove, it is not impossible. It is critical to keep the malfunctioning weapon or equipment in the same condition that it was in at the time of the accident. This evidence will often quell manufacturer claims that the weapon or equipment was handled improperly by the hunter. It will also provide the opportunity for an expert to examine the weapon in its at accident condition.
You Need an Attorney
If you were injured in a hunting accident, or if a loved one was injured or killed as a result of the hunting accident or a malfunctioning weapon, you need an attorney with experience in handling these types of claims. The attorneys at Zinda Law Group have just the right amount of experience and expertise that you are going to need to pursue a claim against a manufacturer or a careless hunter. Call today to speak with a Personal Injury attorney about your case. (800) 863-5312. The call is free and the consultation is free too so why not call today?
