Tens of thousands of people are injured by nail guns every year. Most injuries are accidents, but some are caused by defective design. Since 2005, Hitachi and other manufacturers have issued at least seven recalls for over 100,000 nail guns that can fire unexpectedly.
Need a Texas Nail Gun Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured by a recalled nail gun, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
What is the problem?
A nail gun or “nailer” is a tool that drives nails into wood and other materials. The nail is usually driven by compressed air (pneumatic), but some products use magnets or flammable gases.
The fastest but most dangerous nail guns allow “bump” firing when the safety tip is pressed against the work surface without a trigger-pull (called a “contact trip trigger”). The safest nail guns have a full sequential trigger, in which the tip must be pressed before the trigger.
Nail gun accidents are especially common among frame carpenters, roofers, and construction workers. However, these work-related hazards have extended to the public as nail guns have become readily available to average consumers.
From 2001-2005, an average of 37,000 people with nail gun injuries were treated every year, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In addition, 3-times as many people were injured in 2005 compared to 1991. Some of the most serious injuries involved:
- Bleeding
- Lacerations and open wounds
- Hand and finger injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Bone fractures
- Eye injuries
- Corneal abrasions
- Blindness
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Infection
- Need for surgery to remove the nail
- Death
Hitachi Nail Gun Recalled After 15 Injuries Reported
March 11, 2010 — Hitachi Koki has issued a recall for about 75,000 nail guns that can cause serious injuries. According to the recall:
“The nailers could have a faulty feeder that can allow nails to be ejected sideways… The firm has received 37 reports of nails being ejected sideways, including 15 reports of injuries. The injuries were primarily in the eye region, including five reports of partial blindness.”
Hitachi sold the nail guns at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and other hardware stores nationwide from November 2002 through March 2006 for $350-400. The model number NV83A2 is printed on the body of the product.
Hitachi Nail Gun Recall – NR83A2(Y) and NR83A3
June 12, 2014 — Hitachi Koki announced another large recall involving about 25,300 pneumatic nail guns due to the risk of a double-fire. Models NR83A2(Y) and NR83A3 “can jam and override the safety switch that permits only one nail to fire at a time, posing an injury risk.” No injuries have been reported.
What Other Nail Guns Have Been Recalled?
- December 2012 — RIGID Coil Roofing Nailer and Clipped Head Framing Nailer — Trigger assembly can malfunction and involuntarily fire a fastener, posing a laceration or injury hazard.
- June 2009 — DEWALT Framing Nailers — Nailer can eject a fastener unexpectedly.
- August 2008 — DEWALT Cordless Brad Nailers — Nailer can operate when the safety is on and unexpectedly fire a nail.
- May 2008 — Paslode Fuel Cells for Framing Nailers — Fuel cells for cordless framing nail guns can leak fuel, posing a fire hazard.
- June 2006 — Porter-Cable Cordless Nail Gun —Nail gun can fire a nail when the switch is in the “off” position if the trigger is pulled and it is placed on a surface.
- June 2005 — DEWALT Framing Nailers — Contact trip can malfunction and cause the nail gun to fire a nail unexpectedly.
Need a Nail Gun Injury Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our Texas nail gun injury lawyers for a free lawsuit review.