Most firearms owners use them responsibly, but accidents can occur. There are many ways a gun can malfunction, including a simple misfire as nothing happens after a trigger pull. In other cases, a malfunction could be disastrous. If a victim is in doubt, you could look here for three gun malfunctions to look out for.
Squib Loading (Incomplete Discharge)
Squib loading occurs when a bullet is fired but becomes lodged in the barrel of the gun. A subsequent round will hit the first round, potentially causing the gun’s barrel to explode.
A Delayed Discharge
Delayed discharge can happen if a gun doesn’t fire in the absence of a total malfunction. It can occur when the trigger is depressed and the primer fires, but the propellant within the cartridge burns until there’s enough pressure to force the bullet out of the gun barrel. If a trigger is pulled and nothing happens, the gun should be held downrange for at least thirty seconds before the defective cartridge is removed.
Extraction Failure
When cartridges are fired, they must be ejected by a mechanism within the gun. However, rusted, dirty or corroded weapons may fail to eject the spent cartridge. Afterward, a live round can be forced into the other cartridge’s base, leaving the potential for explosion.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Gun Malfunction
User error is behind many firearm malfunctions, but they’re also due to production and design defects in some cases. If the latter is true, a person may need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Allentown PA. Under the strict liability doctrine, a gun manufacturer or seller can be held responsible for damages and injuries if:
* The firearm had a defect that was unreasonably dangerous
* The defect caused injuries when the weapon was used for its intended purpose and in the intended method
* The product hasn’t been substantially modified from its factory configuration
If a person is injured by a malfunctioning weapon and the problem wasn’t due to user error, there may be a basis for a personal injury claim. The victim should call a Personal Injury Lawyer in Allentown PA for help and advice specific to the case.
