San Francisco Shooting Injury Lawyers

cartwrightlaw - July 5, 2021 -

Shootings are on the rise nationwide. Whether the result of an accident or an intentional act, shooting victims often sustain serious physical injuries resulting in enormous medical debt and months of recovery. Some victims lose their lives, leaving behind grieving loved ones.

Victims can get help with these expenses. When an injury occurs due to the negligence of another, that injury is often compensable. Sometimes that negligence is the shooter’s, but just as often, the injury occurs because of the negligence of a third party. Bringing a civil lawsuit is often the vehicle to obtain compensation for the shooting victim. An attorney can also help a shooting victim obtain victim compensation from the California Victim Compensation Board.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to being shot, you should discuss your options with a San Francisco shooting injury attorney right away.

Possible Liability Among Defendants

Locations of shootings differ, and the lawsuits that arise from them differ as well. Some shootings occur in the workplace, others occur at outdoor events such as music festivals and concerts, and still others occur in random locations. The venue in which shooting occurs has some impact on who may be held liable in a civil case.

The shooter can be held liable, although often it is difficult to get compensation from the shooter due to the intentionality of their actions. Where security is lax at an outdoor event or in an office where security screens people, security can be held liable if a gunman gets a firearm past security and later opens fire. Festival organizers may be held liable if they fail to take reasonable precautions that could have prevented the shootings. A gun manufacturer may be held civilly liable if a gun is defectively made such that it accidentally discharges and causes an injury. Finally, police shootings can give rise to state and federal lawsuits in certain circumstances.

Unintentional Tort Actions

Accident cases can be brought as negligence actions against a shooter whose actions were unintentional. This is the case when a defendant is cleaning a gun without first removing its bullets. If the gun accidentally discharges, the person cleaning the gun may be held liable. This is the case, too, where a defective design or defective design leads a gun to discharge unintentionally.

Finally, a gun owner has a duty to lock and keep their gun safe to protect those around them from accident injury. All too often, a child finds an unsecured gun, loads it, and fires it without fully understanding the ramifications of their actions. In cases such as these, the gun owner can be held liable.

It can be very empowering for the victim of an intentional shooting to bring a civil action. These victims often feel left out of the criminal proceedings that arise from an intentional shooting. Every shooting victim suffers. When it is feasible, it is right to allow each victim to receive compensation for their suffering. In addition, these victims are often successful. The burden of proof in a civil case is less stringent than in a criminal matter, making it easier to win a verdict.

Shooting Victims Need Help

Shooting victims suffer enormous physical, mental, and economic impacts. Chief among these are:

Medical expenses,
Funeral expenses,
Psychotherapy expenses, and
Lost wages.

Individuals are not the only plaintiffs who may seek compensation, however. In situations where the potential plaintiff is a business, those impacts may include such things as:

Property damage and clean up from the shooting,
Additional security expenses, and
Loss of revenue.

Injuries and economic losses are compensable. Get the help you need today.

Free Consultation with a San Francisco Shooting Injury Lawyer

As a shooting victim, you have already had to contend with very real and substantial injuries. It can help to have an experienced attorney on your side when you look to get compensated for your injuries. The Cartwright Law Firm provides a free consultation to see what we can do for you. Contact us today online, or call (415) 851-6486 in San Francisco or (415) 851-6486 in the North Bay. You don’t have to be alone in this.