Many different firearm defects can cause catastrophic injuries, but most fall into three primary categories. Understanding these types of defects can help you recognize what went wrong, protect your legal rights, and determine whether you may have a claim.
If you or someone you love was harmed because a firearm malfunctioned, the attorneys at Wheeles & Garmon can help you evaluate your options. Our firm represents individuals and families across Alabama in complex gun defect cases.
Gun Design Defects
A design defect is a flaw built into the blueprint of the firearm, meaning the weapon is unsafe even when manufactured exactly as intended. When a gun’s core design is hazardous, every owner of that model may be at risk. Any gun that can fire without someone pulling the trigger is a mechanical absurdity and a source of constant danger.
Examples of design defects include:
- Designs that allow a firearm to discharge without the trigger being pulled
- Safety mechanisms that disengage or fail under certain conditions
- Triggers that can fire with minimal or no pressure applied
- Designs that allow a firearm to discharge when dropped
- Missing guards or safeties that should prevent a gun from firing without the user pulling the trigger
Because these defects originate in the weapon’s fundamental structure, demonstrating them requires technical investigation, expert engineering analysis, and careful evidence preservation. An experienced Alabama gun accident lawyer can coordinate the necessary testing to determine whether the design directly contributed to the injury or loss.
Manufacturing Defects in Firearms
Manufacturing defects occur when mistakes happen during the production process, rendering an otherwise safe design hazardous. These flaws typically affect a limited number of units or batches. Examples include:
- Poorly forged or weakened barrels, frames, fire control systems, or retention plates
- Misaligned firing pins
- Faulty or irregular springs
- Contaminated or improperly treated internal components
Even a small imperfection can lead to a catastrophic malfunction during normal and responsible use. Investigating manufacturing defects often involves comparing the defective firearm to safe models, reviewing quality control documentation, internal and external scientific inspections by metallurgical or firearm design experts, and tracing serial number information.
Working with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Alabama with resources to investigate the manufacturing of your weapon may prove critical to the outcome of your case.
Gun Defects Related to Marketing & Warnings
Some firearm defects arise not from the gun itself but from the information attached to it, or lack thereof. Manufacturers are legally required to give clear warnings and accurate safety instructions. A gun manufacturer is not legally allowed to warn away in an owner’s manual what it can design against in making the firearm. When they fail to do so, users may unknowingly be placed in danger.
Examples of marketing or warning defects include:
- Missing or unclear loaded-chamber warnings
- Misleading claims that a firearm is “drop-safe” or otherwise safer than it is
- Omitted or incomplete safety steps
- Lack of child-access warnings
- Ambiguous unloading instructions
- Downplayed recoil or muzzle-rise risks
- Failure to disclose known hazards
- Misrepresentations regarding the origin or quality of the firearm and its safeties
When a manufacturer does not adequately warn consumers, preventable injuries can occur even when the firearm is used responsibly. These cases play a critical role in holding companies accountable and promoting safer industry practices.
Fighting for Victims of Every Type of Firearm Defect
Whether your injury involved a design flaw, a production error, or a lack of proper warnings, you deserve a thorough investigation and clear answers. At Wheeles & Garmon, we bring decades of combined legal experience and a strong background in firearm-related cases to every claim. Our team works to identify the defect, preserve critical evidence, and pursue the justice and compensation your family deserves. If you were injured by a defective or malfunctioning firearm, contact Wheeles & Garmon today for a free, confidential consultation. We are here to help you understand your options and move forward with confidence.