Pressurized Carbon Dioxide Paintball Guns Can Shoot Paintballs at Velocities as High 200 mph
Every year over 8 million people pick up a paintball gun and engage in the activity of paintball battles and fights. While paintball has gained wide popularity, it is equally denounced as being too dangerous. Most detractors argue that it is controversial because it seeks to glorify and simulate mortal combat and involves unreasonable risks of serious injury.
Most high powered paintball guns utilize pressurized CO2 cartridges to fire paintball projectiles. These pressurized carbon dioxide paintball guns can shoot paintballs at velocities as high 200 mph. Human tissue and flesh is no match for a paintball bullet traveling over 200 mph. To add insult to injury some paintballers will put their paintballs in the freezer to harden their ammunition in order to increase its devastating affect.
Paintball Eye Injuries, Eye Loss or Loss of Vision
Studies estimate that over 85% of the paintball injuries that require emergency medical treatment are eye related. One medical study reviewed area hospital records over a specific period of time and found that 28% of patients that went to the emergency room because of a paintball accident sustained a ruptured eye, and 19% sustained a detached retina injury.
81% of the people that went to the emergency room because of a paintball accident required eye surgery while 22% needed surgery to remove the eye which is known as enucleation. Permanent vision loss was usually the case even in cases where the eye could be saved. Only 36% of the victims had their vision completely restored.
Common paintball gun eye injuries include:
- Loss of Eye
- Detached Retina
- Retinal Hemorrhage
- Vitreous Hemorrhage
- Ruptured Eye Ball
- Corneal Abrasion
- Traumatic Hyphema
- Eyelid Trauma
- Traumatic Iritis
- Optic Neuropathy
Pursuing a Paintball Accident Claim Against a Parent or Homeowner
Some parents mistakenly believe that paintball guns are just toys, safe to handle and shoot casually, and so it comes as no surprise that the majority of paintball injuries happen because of a lack of supervision. This ill-informed type of thinking is why many paintball gun injuries occur in backyards. A homeowner or parent that negligently allows their child to play paintball with friends without rules and strict supervision is responsible for any paintball related injuries their child causes or that occurs on their property. In this situation the parent’s homeowners insurance policy will step-in and provide insurance to cover damages for medical expenses, partial or permanent vision loss, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Going after someone’s homeowners insurance is not the same as going after them personally. If you or a loved one lost vision, lost an eye or now suffer from partial or complete blindness because of a paintball accident then call our Massachusetts Accident Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.
Get Your Free Legal Consultation With an Experienced Paintball Accident Claims and Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has sustained an injury from a paintball gun in a Massachusetts it is important you get immediate medical attention. After you have seen your doctor and have a care plan in place you should contact an experience personal injury attorney that has a track record of successfully bringing personal injury claims involving premises liability.
Our firm will zealously pursue your claim by building an airtight case that will leave the responsible party with only one option — and that is to pay you fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.
We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case.
Our law firm is available to assist clients throughout Massachusetts, including but not limited to: Plymouth County including Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook Middleboro; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Wrentham, Attleboro, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham; and Middlesex County including Cambridge, Lowell, Somerville, Newton, Woburn, Framingham, Malden, Chelsea, Everett, Arlington, Medford and Waltham; Cape Cod, Barnstable, Hyannis, Falmouth; Springfield & Worcester; Essex County including Lynn, Lawrence, Peabody, Haverhill; and the Greater Boston area including, Revere, Dorchester, and Roxbury. New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Westport, Dartmouth, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Hyannis, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.