Yes, a gun can discharge when dropped, and when it does, it is almost always the result of a defective drop safety, a flawed firing pin block, or another failure in the firearm’s internal safety mechanisms. These defects, whether in the design or manufacturing of the firearm, are the responsibility of the manufacturer, not the gun owner.
Under product liability law, manufacturers and others in the distribution chain can be held accountable for the medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses that follow.
Wheeles & Garmon is a dedicated gun defect litigation firm committed to securing justice for individuals and families catastrophically injured by defective firearms. We know how to win cases and deliver the justice and compensation our clients deserve.
Drop Fire Accidents and Product Liability
After a drop fire, the central question is what caused the firearm to discharge, and who in the manufacturing and distribution chain is responsible. Some of the ways these failures contribute to firearm drop fire accidents include:
Design Defects
Some firearms are defectively designed with inadequate internal safeties or poorly engineered firing mechanisms that allow the gun to discharge upon impact with the ground, floor, or other surface.
Manufacturing Defects
Errors during production can result in misaligned firing pins, improper tolerances, or faulty components that cause a firearm to discharge upon impact, even without a trigger pull.
Safety Mechanism Failures
Modern firearms are typically equipped with drop safeties and firing pin blocks, but these systems can fail. If a safety mechanism is improperly installed or poorly designed, it may not prevent discharge when the firearm is dropped.
How Strict Liability Applies to Drop Fire Accidents
Strict liability means you do not have to prove a manufacturer knew their product was defective, only that the defect existed and caused your injury. If putting an unsafe product on the market caused injury during normal, foreseeable use, such as dropping a gun, the responsible parties can be held liable regardless of intent or knowledge.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Drop Fire Claim?
If you were injured because a firearm discharged when dropped, you may be entitled to recover compensation from the manufacturer, distributor, or others responsible for putting a defective product on the market.
Damages in a drop fire claim may include:
- Medical expenses related to emergency treatment, surgery, and ongoing care for gunshot injuries
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity due to temporary or permanent disability
- Pain and suffering resulting from physical trauma and emotional distress
- Costs associated with rehabilitation, physical therapy, or long-term medical needs
- Permanent disability, disfigurement caused by the firearm injury
Firearm manufacturers routinely deploy legal teams to dispute injury claims and shift blame onto the gun owner. An experienced defective firearms attorney at Wheeles & Garmon will investigate every aspect of the firearm’s design, production, and history to build a case grounded in evidence and pursue full compensation on your behalf.
Work With a Leader in Defective Firearm Litigation
Defective firearm litigation demands a firm with a thorough understanding of firearm mechanics and drop-fire engineering, access to forensic ballistics and engineering experts.
At Wheeles & Garmon, we bring all of that to every case, along with the personal attention your case deserves. Our firm has built its reputation on delivering results for victims of defective firearms, combining aggressive legal advocacy with a genuine commitment to our clients’ safety, health, and rights.
Contact us today to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation. We serve clients nationwide. For most cases, we work on a contingency fee basis; you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you.