An Ottawa County hunting accident resulted in severe injuries for a Comstock Park man.  Jim Suwal was injured when he fell from his tree stand at the Bass River Recreation Area in Robinson Township in Ottawa County on November 20, 2008.  The fall knocked him unconscious for several hours before he was located and treated for head and neck injuries and exposure.

I am very sorry this accident occurred.  I hope this man is able to recover from his injuries.

Although it is not clear why this accident occurred, this man may be able to file a lawsuit if the accident occurred as a result of someone’s negligence.  If, for example, the tree stand was defective, or if another person was negligent in setting up the tree stand, Jim Suwal would likely be able to sue for compensation for his injuries.  If successful, he would likely be able to collect damages to compensate him for his medical expenses, follow up treatment, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.  The best way to determine if he could in fact sue is by speaking with a lawyer.

For more information about Michigan hunting cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan personal injury attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

A Midland hunting accident has resulted in the death of an Indianapolis man.  Few details have been released but authorities responded to an emergency call at property off West Schearer Road in Midland County’s Warren Township.  Various reports indicated the man was shot in either the back or the chest and had been hunting.  He was taken to Hurley Medical Center in Flint.  Authorities later announced that Corey Welch died from his injuries, which were sustained while in a hunting blind.  He was likely shot by a woman who was aiming at a deer from another blind.  She heard yelling after she fired and provided aid. 

I am very sorry this accident occurred.  I want to extend my sympathies to this man’s family. 

Hopefully this man has insurance which will cover the cost of his medical expenses.  Whether he does or not, his family may want to determine if they are able to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for his death.  If his death was caused by someone else’s negligence or by a hidden danger or defect on the land, he may be able to file a lawsuit.  The key issue here is whether the woman who shot him failed to use reasonable care.  There may be other grounds for him to sue on as well, such as if he had a defective tree stand or defective gun.  The best thing the family can do while they are arranging his affairs is to speak with a lawyer so he can determine what rights they have in this unfortunate situation.

For more information about Michigan hunting cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan personal injury attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Now that hunting season is here, the risk from tree stand injuries is back.  Although non-hunters are often quick to criticize hunters and frequently blame them for their own injuries, the truth is that usually if a hunter is injured, it is someone else’s fault.  Tree stand injuries are no exception. 

When a hunter is injured on a tree stand, the injury can happen for a variety of reasons.  One of the most important is that the tree stand itself is defective.  In 2007, for example, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that more than 9000 tree stands were recalled after securing pins failed.  A very large number of these defective products were discovered only after their owners had suffered injuries from serious falls. 

Generally, using a safety harness can help you avoid falls and other injuries from the tree stand, but sometimes the harness is also defective.  In a situation like that, the hunter can be doing everything possible to avoid injury but may still end up injured. 

In addition, sometimes a hunter is injured even though the tree stand and harness are working properly.  Often, these injuries occur as a result of someone’s negligence.  The injured hunter could bring a lawsuit against the negligent person to seek compensation for his injuries. 

For more information about Michigan firearm injury cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan gun accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Going to the shooting range is a great way to practice for hunting deer, but there may be some hidden risks of shooting for a long period of time.  According to a study I recently read, many shooting ranges have poor ventilation which increases the risk of injury from lead exposure.  Lead used to be found in gas and paint, but it was banned in those products several decades ago because of the very serious health-risks it presents, especially to children.  To learn more about the health effects of lead, visit the lead poisoning injuries section of my law firm’s website. 

The study, put on by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, indicates that many shooting ranges, especially those with low ceilings, have very poor airflow.  The problem is made worse by tight corners, large ornaments or displays, and other barriers to air circulation. 

Poor airflow on a shooting range becomes a problem for the gun user when smoke from discharges fills the air near the shooter.  Particles of lead from the ammunition clog the air and can enter the body during the normal breathing process.  This can cause lead to enter the blood stream and be transported throughout the body and to the brain.  At high levels, adults can suffer loss of IQ points and other brain damage.  In children, brain damage occurs at much lower levels and other developmental disabilities can begin.  In fact, several recent studies suggest that lead is unsafe at any level for a child. 

For more information about Michigan firearm injury cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan gun accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.