Nail guns first emerged after World War II and are now common in the construction industry. They are used in attaching shingles to a roof, floor boards to a plywood floor, and other repetitive nailing activities. The gun basically "shoots" the nail, either with air-pressure or by other methods.
One of the most common ways that nail guns cause injuries is unintentional firing. The design of most nail guns makes it easy to fire a nail if you bump into something with the muzzle of the gun. It allows for fast work, but it also means that if you bump into a co-worker, bystander, or even yourself, a nail will fire into that person.
A sequential trip trigger can greatly reduce or eliminate the chance of unintentional firing. It requires the muzzle to be depressed before the trigger, in order to fire. The sequential trip design may make the nail gun slightly slower in operation, but it makes it much safer. Many consumers are not even aware of this safety option.
As the number of injuries caused by air-powered nail guns continues to rise, hazards remain largely unaddressed by regulatory agencies. According to one estimate, 42,000 people are treated annually for nail gun injuries in hospital emergency rooms.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a nail gun accident, contact our office and request to speak with attorneys Jeff Kirby, Mike Bradley, or Bo Johnson.