Bow hunting has long been part of the legal means for hunters to hunt big game. Crossbows, however, have traditionally been a weapon of defense because of their shorter shot range. In the wake of television dramas such as Breaking Bad and movies such as the Hunger Games, interest in crossbows rose. In the hunting community, companies developed crossbows that were easier to handle, lighter to carry, and more accurate; however, brands such as Barnett Crossbow are not always safe to use. In fact, several of Barnett’s crossbows were marketed and sold with design flaws that resulted in serious injuries. Those models include the Jackel, Penetrator, Wildcat C5, and Buck Commander.
Weapon Design that Maim
Crossbows have many moving parts and it is important that fingers remain clear of those moving part. A crossbow works because its string is placed under increased pressure as the bow arches. That pressure is what propels a crossbow quarrel or bolt with enough force to kill large game such as bear, deer and smaller game such as turkeys.
The force behind a crossbow string is strong enough to seriously harm a shooter and when crossbows are defective, they do just that. The problem with Barnett Crossbow design, in that some models, is that they do not all have a thumb guard. The manufacturer failed to consider thumb safety while designing certain models. As a result, hunters have lost thumbs or had their thumb severely mutilated by the force of the crossbow’s string. The faulty design lacks an appropriate thumb guard which would naturally prevent the shooters thumb from coming into contact with the crossbow’s string as the bow is fired.
Risk of Injury Increases with Sighting Scope Usage
Hunting and target practice with a bow or crossbow require significant concentration, so much so that hunters may not notice their thumb position. Further, many crossbows are sold with an optional scope for fine targeting at longer distances. The thumb danger increases when the hunter or shooter is looking through the scope because the field of vision around the crossbow diminishes significantly. A hunter looking through a scope mounted on a crossbow would not see that their thumb was sticking up past the foregrip and into spring zone of the string.
The result is that hunters face an increased risk of thumb amputation or serious maiming including fractured thumb bones, lacerations, and partial amputation when they use a crossbow that has a faulty design. A major injury is not a situation that anyone wants to face, let alone someone who is deep in hunting territory where help is not available.
Losing a Thumb is a Catastrophic Injury
Even when help becomes available, people who are injured by a crossbow string face secondary medical issues such as infection. However, while immediate medical problems are severe, the injuries associated with losing a thumb or bearing a significant medical injury to a thumb are devastating. The loss of a thumb prevents many actions and can severely impact many areas of one’s life, including the ability to work and maintain a pre-injury income or to adequately provide for a family or maintain a home.
Sadly, this is not an uncommon injury type, and people who face these issues are not alone. Each year thousands of people across the United States become injured due to defective products. Reach out to us with questions or concerns or if you or a loved one have an injury caused by a poorly designed device. At Saunders & Walker, we offer free consultations so that you can make an informed decision about how to handle your case.
Source
http://www.saunderslawyers.com/dangerous-products/barnett-cross-bows-without-thumb-guards/
