Who is liable for a shooting range injury caused by a deffective firearm?

Multiple parties throughout the chain of commerce can be held liable for injuries caused by defective firearms at shooting ranges.

When a firearm fails to perform as safely as an ordinary consumer would expect or poses unreasonable risks, it is considered defective under Florida product liability law.

Defective firearms can cause severe injuries, long-term harm, or even death, making it crucial to identify who is legally responsible.

The following categories help determine whether a firearm itself is legally defective and who may be liable for injuries caused by it.

• Design defects: flaws in the way the gun was conceived or engineered, such as inadequate safety mechanisms
• Manufacturing defects: errors that occur during production, like incorrect or faulty assembly
• Marketing defects: inadequate safety instructions, insufficient warnings about known hazards

A defective firearm claim requires proof that the defect existed when the weapon was sold or leased, that it was used in a foreseeable manner, and that the defect directly caused your injury. A malfunctioning trigger can cause an unintentional discharge, a defective magazine can result in a misfire, a manufacturing defect can lead to a chamber explosion, and a design flaw can increase the likelihood of an unintentional discharge.

In Florida, manufacturers and other parties involved in the distribution chain can be held liable for defective products without having to prove negligence on their part. Florida's statute of limitations for defective product injuries is four years from the date the injury was first discovered or should have been discovered.

Defective products that cause injury or death are not covered by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which grants some immunity to firearm manufacturers.

How can The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary maximize your recovery in a defective firearm case?

A defective firearm case requires specialized knowledge of both product liability law and firearms technology to identify all responsible parties.

We work with firearms experts, engineers, and accident reconstruction specialists to identify the specific defect in the weapon that caused your injuries. Aside from the manufacturer, we investigate distributors, retailers, component suppliers, and shooting range operators that may have contributed to your accident because of negligent maintenance or failure to address known defects.

These cases present unique challenges, including immunity laws and the need to preserve evidence. Upon retrieval and examination of the defective firearm, our firm gathers witness testimony and establishes whether your injuries were caused directly by the defect.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries at a shooting range facility due to a defective firearm, our law firm can help you get compensated for the injuries sustained due to someone else's negligence.