Premises Liability: Gun Accidents

According to data provided by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, over 100,000 Americans are seriously injured or killed by guns each year. A significant portion of these gun injuries are sustained as the result of accidents. Gun accident victims and their families deserve compensation for the tremendous damage they have suffered. If you were injured in a gun accident, you need to take immediate legal action. Please consult with an experienced Las Vegas premises liability attorney today who understands Nevada gun laws so they can determine if you have an injury case which could entitle you to compensation.

Who Is Liable for a Shooting Range Gun Accident?

An afternoon at the shooting range can be a great time. However, unquestionably, shooting ranges can also be extremely dangerous. It is critical that the owners and operators of the facilities take proper precautions to protect the safety of all guests. The negligent party must be held accountable for any shooting range gun accidents. Liable parties could include the shooter, the gun range, or both. All parties at a shooting range have a responsibility to look out for the safety of others. Specifically, these responsibilities include:

• The shooter: Anyone operating a firearm at a shooting range must handle that firearm with due care. Shooters should keep their gun pointed down away from any people. They should always keep their finger off the trigger when not in a shooting position. Further, shooters should ensure that their firearm is completely unloaded before it leaves their hand. Taking simple safety precautions will go a long way towards preventing accidents that result in serious injuries or fatalities.
• The gun range: The range also has many safety obligations. Gun ranges are responsible for keeping an eye on everyone who is on the premises. They should always ensure that anyone using a firearm on the range is properly trained. Finally, all shooting ranges should always have extensive safety procedures that are diligently followed. If an injury occurs at a shooting range, and the range’s failure to take reasonable precautions was a contributing factor, the owners and operators of the facility can be held liable. In fact, you may even be able to hold a shooting range liable if you injure yourself with a firearm.

Liability For Gun Accidents that Occur at Nevada Businesses

If you are injured by a gun at a business, you may be able to hold the business liable. This is true regardless of whether the injury was sustained because of an intentional act or an unintentional act. Nevada businesses have a legal responsibility to protect their customers from unreasonable safety hazards. This includes protecting them from acts caused by third parties. All businesses must have adequate security on the premises. If you were injured in a gun incident at a business, and you believe poor security was a factor, you should contact an experienced Las Vegas negligent security attorney immediately. Specific factors that are indicative of negligent security include:

• Not enough security personnel on the premises;
• Poorly trained staff;
• Poor property conditions, such lack of lighting, faulty lacks or no surveillance camera; and
• Inadequate screening.

Gun Injuries Sustained on Public Property

Some gun injuries are sustained on public property. Often these occur as the result of ‘wrong place, wrong time’ type accidents. For example, a person may be injured while hunting or by someone else who is hunting. In this situation, many feel that they do not have any legal options. However, that is simply not the case. If you or your family member was injured or killed by a gun on public property, please get your case in the hands of an experienced attorney. Your attorney will ensure that all negligent parties are held accountable. In public property gun injury cases, this could include:

• The person who fired the gun;
• The parents of the shooter, if they were a minor;
• Anyone else who contributed to the accident;
• The gun manufacturer or designer; and
• A government entity, in the event that their negligence led to the accident occurring on public property.

What if Someone Is Injured in a Gun Accident on Your Property?

As a property owner, you too have a legal responsibility to ensure that your property is free from unreasonable safety hazards. This means that property owners can potentially be held liable for gun accident injuries that occur on their property or in the vehicle, although Nevada homeowners and other non-commercial property owners have lower obligations than do Nevada businesses. One of the primary obligations of all Nevada property owners is to warn invited guests about known safety hazards. For example, imagine that you own a considerable amount land behind your home. On this land you have a small shooting range. You allow your friends to use this range on a regular basis for some informal target practice. In this scenario, you would have a legal duty to warn your invited guests about the existence of the shooting range. This is so your guests can take active measures to reduce their risk of being injured in a gun accident. The bottom line is that you may be held liable for a gun injury that occured on your property if it is deemed that you failed to take reasonable care to protect your guests. If someone was injured by a gun on your property, or if you were injured in a Las Vegas area gun accident, it is imperative that you contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. You must act quickly to protect your legal rights.

Contact An Experienced Las Vegas Gun Accident Injury Attorney Today with Questions about Property Gun Accident Liability in Las Vegas

All guns must be handled with extreme care. Any accident can lead to very serious injuries or death. If you were injured in a gun accident, whether on your own property, at a shooting range or at a Las Vegas area business, you deserve full and fair compensation. The aggressive premises liability attorneys at the Ladah Law Firm are standing by ready help. Please contact our office today at 702-252-0055 to learn more about what our team can do for you. We will review your case free of charge. Our team represents victims throughout the Las Vegas area, including in Henderson and Sunrise Manor.