Middletown Nail Gun Injury Attorneys

Experienced Personal Injury and Workers’ Comp Lawyers Handling Claims Related to Nail Gun Injuries in Monmouth County, New Jersey

Nail guns (and their cousins, automatic staple guns) were invented in 1950, and ever since, they’ve been necessities on construction sites, and for do-it-yourselfers doing all kinds of projects. Since the typical American home is framed in wood and requires 50,000 to some 70,000 nails to build, nail guns spare contractors from hammering each of those nails in place. Nail guns can be pneumatic, combustion-powered, powder-actuated, solenoid, or electric. They are wonderful labor-saving devices, but they cause approximately 37,000 visits to the emergency room every year, according to the Centers of Disease Control. Sixty-eight percent of these injuries happen to construction workers, the rest to homeowners or renters using nail guns on projects.

The most common nail gun accidents are puncture wounds to fingers and hands, but they can cause far more dangerous injuries—and even death. Take, for example, the story of Dennis, an experienced contractor in New Jersey, as reported by ABC Eyewitness News. The self-employed builder was working on a neighbor’s roof on a Saturday when his nail gun jammed. He was accustomed to this happening, but on this occasion, he turned the gun a little too far to see what the hold-up was and unjam it. He heard a pop and felt something poking into his chest. It was a 3-1/2” nail, and it hit the right side of his heart. He nearly lost his life, but in the end, with excellent medical intervention, his life was spared.

It is crucial to consult with a lawyer well-versed in both economic and non-economic losses when dealing with nail gun injury cases in Neptune, Rumson, Red Bank, Wall Township, Colts Neck, Belmar and other Monmouth County communities. Economic damages encompass expenses related to nail gun injuries, such as medical bills and the income you missed out on during your recovery period. If the injury occurred at your workplace, workers’ compensation regulations might apply, but they may not cover all your medical costs and lost earnings. In such situations, it may be possible and even necessary to pursue a personal injury claim. To fully grasp the potential damages, including the physical, emotional, and psychological distress you’ve endured, it is advisable to seek legal advice soon after the accident with the attorneys at Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh. Call us today at (732) 440-3950. You can also contact us online to set up your consultation right now.

Applications of Nail Guns in Various Industries and Tasks in NJ

These versatile tools come in many types and sizes, each designed for specific tasks. They can be used to frame buildings, driving long nails into wooden studs and joists. Their depth setting is adjustable to control nail penetration, so they also help in roofing by attaching shingles, roofing felt, and other materials to roofs. They’re used to secure flooring. In the interior, they can be used for precision work in finish carpentry to attach moldings, trims, and baseboards. On the exterior, siding nail guns are used to attach vinyl, fiber cement, and wood to exterior walls.

Upholsterers use staple guns to attach fabric and padding to frames. Do-It-Yourselfers use nail guns to install cabinets and build outdoor structures. Arts-and-Crafters and woodworkers use them in projects. On a more industrial scale, boatbuilders use nail guns to secure planks and ribbing. Manufacturers use them for furniture manufacturing, cabinetry, and building prefab components. Fences, pallets, crates, and concrete formwork are all built with the help of nail guns.

Main Factors Contributing to Nail Gun Accidents

Lack of adequate training is a major cause of accidents. Being trained in best practices and in the potential hazards is crucial. Double firing is one such hazard: Some nail guns can accidentally fire two nails quickly when the trigger is pulled, which raises the risk of injury. Accidental contact with the trigger while carrying or handling the nail gun can lead to unintended firing. A nail can be fired off that hurts the carrier—or someone near him. Nail guns are famous for the recoil they produce. It can catch users off guard and cause them to lose control of the tool. Negligence in performing regular maintenance, such as cleaning, lubrication, and inspecting for damage, can lead to accidents.

Using the wrong type or size of nails, staples, or fasteners can result in jamming or misfires. Not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, i.e., safety glasses, hearing protection, hard hats, and gloves, can increase the risk of injury. Working in an awkward or unstable position, such as on a ladder or scaffolding, can cause accidents and loss of balance. Some nail guns may have design flaws that make them more prone to misfires, double fires, or other issues. Sometimes, users disable safety features like sequential triggers and safety tips. Accidents are then more likely. Human error is a big factor. If a nail gun operator is not aware of the workspace and the presence of other workers, this can lead to accidental nail discharge in the wrong direction. Lack of concentration, being distracted, or multitasking while using a nail gun can increase the likelihood of accidents.

Understanding the Serious Dangers of Nail Gun Accident Injuries in NJ

Nail guns fire with such immense force that serious injury can happen to the person operating the gun and also to people around him or her if he or she is distracted and not totally careful each second as to where the gun is pointing. Puncture wounds account for half of nail gun injuries. When a nail or fastener penetrates the skin and underlying tissues, it can also cause damage to nerves, tendons, or ligaments. These wounds can be painful and may lead to infection or loss of function of these extremities. Sometimes, nails break bones or become embedded, requiring surgery to be removed. Tetanus, a dreadful disease if someone’s vaccine is not up to date, can also result. Nails can ricochet off surfaces—or mistakenly be directly fired—and enter the eye, causing serious damage or vision loss. Accidental firing or misfires can result in head injuries if the nail or fastener strikes the head. People can suffer hearing loss if they don’t wear hearing protection. They can also experience anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of a bad experience with a nail gun injury.

Measures to Avoid Getting Injured by a Nail Gun

Nail guns and the injuries they cause are so prevalent that federal agencies have published guides on how to prevent injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published “Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Contractors.” The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to create “Straight Talk About Nail Gun Safety.” These documents emphasize undergoing safety training and basics like always wearing a hard hat, safety glasses, and hearing protection while nailing.

Medical Interventions to Seek Recovery after Nail Gun Accidents

Injuries can range from minor punctures to severe trauma. In general, people on site will need to assess the situation: the first thing to do is to make sure the gun is disconnected from the power supply to prevent further accidents. Call for help, especially if the injury is in the head, chest, or abdomen. But even puncture wounds to the hand or foot need medical attention—especially with focus on how recently the victim got a tetanus shot.

Control any bleeding with pressure with a clean cloth. But don’t try to remove the nail, as it might be helping to minimize the bleeding. Medical professionals would take over at this point with X-rays or other imaging to assess the depth and position of the nail. They may clean, debride, and irrigate the wound to reduce the risk of infection. Surgery may be required, antibiotics given, and a tetanus vaccine administered.

Measures to Take Post-Nail Gun Accidents

1. Number 1 is to get medical attention for your injury.
2. Number 2 is notify your employer.
3. Number 3 is write down every detail of what happened before, during, and after your accident, while the details are still fresh in your mind. And take pictures of the place where the accident happened.
4. Number 4 is talk to an attorney. You could make a lot of costly mistakes if you try to “go it alone.” Speaking to a knowledgeable personal injury attorney will help you avoid making mistakes as you fight for the best compensation you can get for pain and suffering you endure.

Potential Parties at Fault for Nail Gun Injuries in NJ

There are several possibilities when it comes to nail gun cases. The manufacturer of the tool would be liable if the nail gun was defective and also if the nail gun didn’t have adequate labels that warned users of the dangers. The employer could be liable if he or she didn’t ensure adequate safety training and if the construction site wasn’t safely operated with sufficient supervision. If someone else on your worksite operated the nail gun without proper caution, that person could be held liable.

Legal Insight into the Types of Recoverable Damages

You need to speak to an attorney who is knowledgeable about the two types of damages you can seek—non-economic and economic.  Economic damages are the expenses you incurred as a result of the nail gun injury, including medical bills and wages lost while you were recovering from the accident. Non-economic damages take into account the pain you’ve suffered, not only physical but emotional and mental as well.

Workers’ compensation law could be applied if you are injured on the job, but these statutes might not address all the expenses you’ve incurred for medical care and lost wages. You may need to also file a personal injury claim if a third party’s negligence, such as a product manufacturer, contributed to your nail gun accident injuries.

Let the Injury Lawyers at Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh Handle Your NJ Claim for Nail Gun Accident Injuries

Speak with an attorney at Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh as soon as you can after your nail gun accident to get a better idea about damages you might be entitled to. We can help you by giving you a realistic idea of your claim’s value and then use our familiarity with the law to help you fight for a just amount of compensation.  Our personal injury lawyers can help you gather the evidence you’ll need to make your case with an insurance company and, if that negotiation fails, with a judge. We can also track down witnesses and facilitate them making statements and do research on the specs for your particular nail gun. Once those steps are taken, our attorneys can start negotiating with the party at fault or his or her insurance company. Most cases are settled outside of court, so this is a very important step.

The attorneys at Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh can also advise you on whether or not the offered amount is a fair and reasonable settlement in Long Branch, Asbury Park, Hazlet, Freehold, Middletown, Ocean Township, Howell, and throughout Southern New Jersey. If not, our team has the necessary knowledge to start the judicial process. Call (732) 440-3950 for a free consultation on your case with one of our attorneys who has nail gun injury claim knowledge and experience. You deserve the best representation, and not only you but your family, too.