Nail Gun Accidents

Since 1991, nail gun injuries have increased by 200%. Pneumatic nail guns use compressed air to drive a nail into a piece of wood, stone, steel, or concrete and are very common and useful work tools in construction sites across the United States. They are easy to use and promote efficiency in the workplace. Increasingly, homeowners and consumers are using them for do-it-yourself home repairs, projects, and hobbies.

There are two types of nail guns currently in use: sequential trip and coil (contract trip). The sequential trip is considered much safer as the head of the tool needs to be depressed along with the trigger. Some consumer groups and occupational epidemiologists call for the total ban of the coil type as they can sometimes misfire when bumped or when they recoil. However, some manufacturers and employers put speed above safety.

In the past five years, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that nail gun injuries cause more than 100 people a day to seek medical attention in a hospital emergency room. Sometimes the injuries can be quite serious, resulting in the loss of an eye or even death. Many times, it is not the nail gun operator but a co-worker or a passerby that is injured.

Injuries are usually caused by being shot by a nail or being struck by a nail gun or compressor hose. Injuries seen in hospital emergency rooms include:

  • Puncture wounds

  • Eye injuries

  • Brain and head injuries

  • Dental injuries

  • Fractured bones

  • Musculoskeletal injuries -- sprains, strains, and tendonitis

  • Nerve damage from tool use

  • Finger dislocation

  • Electrical burns

  • Noise-induced hearing loss

  • Lacerations

  • Infections

  • Death

 
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Herb Farber and the attorneys in the network of The Farber Law Group provide a free case consultation to people seriously injured in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. If your injuries are serious and you cannot come to see us, we can arrange to visit you at Harborview Medical Center, Overlake Hospital Emergency & Trauma Center, Evergreen Hospital, or one of the other trauma centers throughout the state.  We have represented injured victims for more than 45 years and we believe every injured person should have access to legal advice. For your Free and Confidential consultation, contact us today at (800) 244-9087.