Air Rifles ― The Dangers Beyond Eye Loss

The holiday season is here, and with that, a surge in injury patients at emergency rooms all over the country. Air guns are responsible for thousands of accidental injuries and numerous fatalities each year in the United States. BB and pellet guns often cause permanent eye injuries, deep puncture wounds that leave nerve damage and scarring, severe infections, and even death. Because these guns are often purchased as toys, children and young adults are especially susceptible to the dangers.

If you or a loved one were seriously injured due to another’s negligence, call an experienced  Las Vegas injury attorney at Cogburn Law today for a free case consultation.

Air Gun Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 30,000 people are injured by pellets and BB guns every year in the U.S. Pellet guns and BB guns may seem like toys, but they can cause a variety of severe injuries because of high-velocity projectiles. The Daisy Red Ryder gun reaches a velocity speed of 350 feet per second-, almost 239 mph. Other BB guns can reach even higher speeds. Common air gun injuries include:

Eye Injuries

Eye injuries caused by BB guns often cause severe damage to victims. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, at least 66 percent of eye injuries result in permanent, partial vision loss or blindness.

Skin Injuries

Since pellets and BBs from air guns can travel at speeds of over 200 mph, they act as tiny projectiles when fired. When a person is hit, the results are often bruising, skin lacerations, and deep puncture wounds where pellets or BBs become embedded in the skin.

 

Wound Infections

Pellets and BB that puncture the skin are prone to serious bacterial infections. In 1992, a Philadelphia man died from a bacterial infection after a BB lodged in his brain. In addition to severe injuries, air guns can also kill. According to the U.S. Consumer Safety Commission, pellet guns and BB guns are responsible for at least four deaths each year in the U.S.

In addition to serious injuries, air guns can also kill. According to the U.S. Consumer Safety Commission, pellet guns and BB guns are responsible for at least four deaths each year in the U.S. Although the fatality risk from a BB gun injury is low, it’s much higher if the injury occurs at close range. There have been numerous reports of fatalities caused by BB guns at close range. In 2015, a 15-year old boy in Deer Valley died after being accidentally shot in the chest with a friend’s BB gun. In 2018, an 8-year old girl in Indiana died after being shot in the eye with a BB gun by her 6-year old brother. This is the last thing any parent would want to endure, especially during the holiday season.

Liability for Airsoft and BB Gun Injuries

Giving guns as gifts, especially airsoft and bb guns is a common occurrence during the holidays. However, it is not always easy to protect our children from harm. If you or a loved one was injured by an airsoft or BB gun that was fired by someone else, that person can be held liable for your injuries, especially if that person was not supervised properly or was inexperienced.

If the injury is self-inflicted, it is hard to recover damages because by owning one, you assume the risk that you can get injured by using the gun. On the other hand, if the gun was defective, then you might be able to recover if you can prove that your injury was caused by the said defect. If you or your child gets injured by someone using a BB or airsoft gun, you can sue for negligence. You may be able to recover damages for any missed time from work, lost wages, medical bills and pain suffering, and many more.

Do I Need a Lawyer for Airsoft or Bb Gun Injuries?

Like we mentioned before, there are thousands of these types of injures each year. Most of these incidents involve people who are 20 years old or younger. That said, people need to be extremely careful when handling airsoft or BB guns. 

If a defective gun caused your injury, you might want to consult with a personal injury lawyer for advice. It’s important you know that parents can be sued for their children’s actions. Even if you don’t fire the gun, you can be responsible for the outcome. 

As personal injury lawyers, we understand when you or your child suffers an injury it can cause a large number of medical expenses as well as personal hardships that can impact your life in many ways, especially during the holidays. That is why at Cogburn Law, our lawyers are ready to help you through every step of your claim process. 

We can get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation at (702) 748-7777.