Product Liability for Air Gun Manufacturers

Did you know that 63% of eye injuries sustained during recreational activities are caused by air guns? Air gun sports are inherently dangerous – participants shoot projectiles at high speeds, after all. With that in mind, air gun manufacturers can still produce a safe and fun piece of equipment.

Due to the dangerous nature of air guns, there is some concern about product liability for air gun manufacturers. The best air gun manufacturers, however, recognize the need for air gun manufacturer insurance, even if they produce the best air gun on the market.

Regardless of the types of air guns the air gun manufacturer produces, they need to employ some kind of air gun manufacturer insurance. Insurance services are of the utmost importance for gun manufacturers, gun shop owners, and anyone involved in the firearms transfer business.

If that category includes you or your company, read on to learn more about insurance coverage solutions from a Gold Corporate Sponsor of the Second Amendment Foundation – a group working to protect and recover American citizens’ second amendment rights.

What Is Product Liability for Air Gun Manufacturers?

There is no denying that today’s America is a litigious society, it is incredibly important for air gun manufacturers to consider air gun manufacturer insurance.

The threshold for proving a claim or filing a lawsuit is relatively low in most states and municipalities. Many are unclear and have several loopholes, so getting that protection is huge.

Manufacturers can be held liable for any number of problems with an air gun. If it is constructed of low-quality material, it is more likely to fail. If it fails, it is more likely to cause an injury via explosion or misfire.

Air gun manufacturers may also be liable due to insufficient warning labels or instructions. The safe use of the product as it relates to firing the weapon is important to include with the product.

Providing proper care guidelines is also important. If an air gun manufacturer provides adequate cleaning instructions, for example, an injury due to poor cleaning or corrosion is less likely to be held against them.

Types of Injuries

BB guns and pellet guns are often a child’s first foray into “real” gun territory. Considered low-risk, a lack of proper education and warnings can lead to a difficult situation.

There are several injuries that can be caused by an air gun that is misused all of which could put air gun manufacturers at risk if they are not working with an insurance partner. Let’s take a look at a few such injuries.

Skin Wounds

If you’ve ever been hit by a projectile from an air gun, you know that it doesn’t feel great. Most times, it’s going to sting for a minute or two and then develop into a bruise that kids show off to their buddies to look tough.

On the other side of the coin, air gun ammunition can cause serious injury if used improperly or at close range. There are four to five fatalities per year in the United States due to air guns.

Skin wounds caused by air guns are a particularly dangerous proposition. While most end up bruising, as we covered above, projectiles travel at a very high rate of speed after leaving the barrel and can become embedded in or even puncture the skin of the person on the receiving end.

Eye Injuries

The most common air gun-related injury is an eye injury. Sure, everyone has seen the classic holiday movie with the refrain about “shooting your eye out,” but in reality, this is somewhat of a concern. Even when wearing protective eyewear and using the best air gun, the following are common eye injuries associated with their use:

• Corneal Abrasion
• Detached Retina
• Internal Bleeding in the Eye
• Dislocated Lens
• Rupture

General Infections

Even if the injury doesn’t appear to be severe in the immediate aftermath, someone hit by a projectile from an air gun can still develop serious medical issues.

As with any unsterilized object, a projectile that enters the soft tissue of the human body has the potential to cause infection.

Infections occur when the body’s immune system can’t respond adequately to foreign bacteria. For example, if someone shot with a pellet gun were to get the pellet lodged beneath their skin and they left it untreated, they risk serious health problems due to infection.

Air Gun Manufacturer Liability

In any of the above scenarios, an air gun manufacturer could be held liable. Especially if the person filing suit can prove that the air gun caused personal injury or that the gun was defective from the point of manufacture.

If you are concerned about manufacturer liability in the context of air guns, something else to consider is the fact that some states have unique laws in regard to air guns. How and to whom they are sold can vary as well as even the required storage method.

Call a Unique Insurance Services Partner

Because of the sensitive and complicated nature of the industry, it’s important to contact experts in the field. XINSURANCE provides air gun manufacturer insurance solutions and services in several other “extreme” sports areas.

They can offer product liability in your insurance policy, as well. XINSURANCE offers True Umbrella coverage, which can provide true coverage where other insurance companies can leave policyholders on the hook with some gaps in coverage.

If you are looking for solid product liability for air gun manufacturers, call XINSURANCE and let them take the lead.

Authored by Rick J. Lindsey, President, Chairman, and CEO of XINSURANCE

Rick J. Lindsey hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. He began working in the mailroom of his father’s Salt Lake City insurance firm, getting his introduction to the business that became his lifelong career. Rick J. Lindsey quickly rose through the ranks while working in nearly every imaginable insurance industry job. As an entrepreneur, specialty lines underwriter, claims specialist, risk manager, and a licensed surplus lines broker, Rick J. Lindsey is highly skilled in all levels of leadership and execution. As he progressed on his career path, Rick J. Lindsey discovered an urgent need for insurers willing to write policies for high-risk individuals and businesses. He was frequently frustrated that he could not provide the liability protection these entities desperately needed to safeguard their assets. He also formed the belief that insurance companies acted too quickly to settle frivolous claims. Rick J. Lindsey decided to try a different approach. He started an insurance company and became the newly formed entity’s CEO. This opportunity has enabled Rick J. Lindsey to fill a void in the market and provide a valuable service to businesses, individuals, and insurance agents who write high-risk business. XINSURANCE also specializes in helping individuals and businesses who live a lifestyle or participate in activities that make them difficult for traditional carriers to insure. If you’ve been denied, non-renewed, or canceled coverage, don’t give up quite yet. Chances are XINSURANCE can help.