Most local gun owners are careful about how they store, handle, and use their weapons. Sadly, some people are less responsible with firearms, and accidents happen that can lead to injury and death.
Contact the personal injury law firm of D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, when you or a loved one gets hurt in an incident involving a gun. A Waterbury accidental shooting lawyer can help you obtain maximum compensation from the parties whose negligent or reckless conduct led to your injuries.
In most shooting accidents, the person who fired the shot is responsible. Usually, the shooter’s carelessness or recklessness causes the incident. However, depending on the circumstances, others could be liable too. A D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, attorney in Waterbury will investigate the incident and assert claims against any party whose carelessness or recklessness contributed to the incident.
When a minor gets access to a gun, and someone gets hurt, the gun’s owner is strictly liable to an injured person under the law. If a business does not provide adequate security and someone gets shot on the premises, the property owner may be responsible.
The manufacturers of guns, ammunition, and other equipment could be held accountable for an accidental shooting when their product is defective. Connecticut General Statutes § 29-37b requires gun retailers to install a safety lock on every pistol or revolver they sell. If the gun retailer did not install a lock or when someone can breach the lock due to a defect and someone else gets hurt, the injured person could sue the retailer or lock manufacturer for compensation.
Sometimes, a person who is shot bears some of the blame for an accident. Perhaps a hunter was not wearing any safety orange or pink when they were accidentally shot by another hunter. In most cases, the person who fired the weapon is responsible, but the victim might be partially responsible if they did not take steps to make themselves easily identifiable as a hunter.
Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence standard for accident cases. That means that when an injured person has a role in the incident, they can still collect compensation from other involved parties if they do not have primary responsibility. However, they cannot collect 100 percent of their losses. A negligent claimant must absorb a portion of their losses equivalent to their percentage of fault.
When you might be partially responsible for a shooting mishap that injured you, it’s critical to have a skilled legal advocate on your side. D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, has years of experience negotiating with insurers and others to allocate responsibility for accidents. They can ensure that others involved in the incident do not try to limit their liability by shifting responsibility onto you.
Gunshot injuries are often serious. Treatment frequently requires surgery to remove the bullet or fragments and repair the damage. Even when the wound is less severe, a victim might experience pain, temporary or permanent loss of function at the site, and psychological distress.
It’s important to contact an experienced lawyer soon after a gun accident in Waterbury. The best results are more likely when an attorney can begin an investigation immediately. Interviews with witnesses are more reliable when memories are fresh, and physical evidence could deteriorate, disappear, or be lost as time passes. Depending on the circumstances, it might be necessary to obtain expert opinions to support your claim, and the process can be time-consuming.
A prosecutor doesn’t need to bring criminal charges for a gunshot victim to win a civil case for compensation. When you can prove that another person’s failure to act with reasonable care directly led to your injuries, you can hold them responsible for your losses. Any criminal proceedings are separate and don’t impact your civil case for damages.
If you were shot, it was likely a life-altering experience for you, even if you’re expected to make a full physical recovery. In cases of serious injury or death, an accidental shooting is a catastrophe that affects everyone who cares about you.
A Waterbury accidental shooting lawyer at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, will fight to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries. We have a decades-long track record of success in personal injury cases. Contact us today to schedule a free, in-person or remote consultation.
