Defective Sports Equipment Lawyer
Tennessee has a long tradition of hunting and marksmanship, and many people begin learning those skills at an early age. Young people may initially begin using crossbows, rifles, and slingshots at target practice or in competitions, and children may obtain an apprentice hunting license at age 10.
With appropriate safety gear and adult supervision, the use of sporting equipment is usually safe. But when the products malfunction, serious injuries may occur.
If you, or your child, suffered a serious injury due to defective sporting equipment, you may be entitled to compensation that can cover medical costs and other expenses. The Law Office of John R. Colvin has helped many families in the Tennessee Valley get the compensation they need to move on with their lives in the best way possible – and we offer free case consultations. Contact us today to find out whether you have a product liability case.
Crossbow Hazards
Barnett is a name that’s widely recognized in the archery community. That’s because Barnett Outdoors claims to be the first manufacturer of crossbows, as well as the first to offer crank- and rope-cocking devices, along with several other archery innovations. In recent years, the name Barnett has been in the news for other reasons: serious injuries due to its products’ malfunctioning.
In December 2016, Barnett recalled six crossbow models – about 3,300 crossbows altogether – due to a defect that can cause the bow to fire unexpectedly. One man reported that the bow severed his thumb. (The year before, Barnett issued a recall of its Black Widow Slingshot due to a defective wrist strap. That rubber strap snapped and caused a serious eye injury in Tennessee).
Ravin Crossbows issued a U.S. recall of 220,000 crossbow nocks (small plastic clips that attach to the bow string) in December 2017, due to a defect that can cause the bow to discharge while the user is reloading an arrow. The company received reports that the defect caused finger injuries in 23 people.
Other manufacturers issuing crossbow recalls in recent years include Precision Shooting Equipment, TriggerTech, Carbon Express, and Crosman.
Rifle Recalls
CBS News featured a story in 2017 about a family with the last name of Stringer that had suffered a devastating tragedy. Two brothers got into an argument at home in 2011. One of them brandished a loaded Remington rifle at the other – he said he did not pull the trigger, but the gun fired, killing his younger brother. That gun, a Remington 700, had already been the subject of about 200 complaints from owners who said the gun fired without warning.
In 2014, Remington issued a recall for its Model 700 and Model Seven rifles equipped with X-Mark Pro triggers. These guns, manufactured from May 1, 2006, to April 9, 2014, may have excess bonding near the trigger that could cause the gun to discharge unexpectedly. But CBS reported that Remington was aware in 1975 that the Model 700 could fire unexpectedly, and it considered – but never issued – a recall. It instead switched triggers, replacing the original with the X-Mark Pro triggers in 2006.
Remington has sold millions of these rifles, and it’s likely that many people who have these guns in their homes never received notice of the recall. Roger Stringer, father of the boys featured in the CBS News story, said he didn’t learn of the recall until 2015, when his surviving son was still in prison for his brother’s killing.
Holding Companies Accountable for Defective Sports Equipment
The large corporations that manufacture archery and hunting equipment should be held accountable, when their products malfunction and cause injury or death. But too often, companies are able to avoid any repercussions. The Consumer Product Safety Commission might issue a fine, if it finds the company was negligent in some way. Those fines, however, do nothing for the families who are struggling with medical bills, or the loss of a loved one.
If a sporting equipment injury has harmed you or a family member, you may be entitled to compensation. John R. Colvin, Attorney at Law, has successfully represented clients throughout Tennessee and Alabama who have been seriously hurt in hunting accidents. For more than 20 years, he has been representing injury victims in their quest for justice, and he works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing up front – his fee comes from any settlement you may receive.
Don’t wait to get help. Contact John R. Colvin today to ask for your free, no-obligation case consultation.