When practiced correctly, hunting is a safe activity — safer even than driving a car or riding a bike. But when hunting accidents do happen, the stakes are higher, and injuries can be catastrophic. Despite the enjoyment hunting brings to many individuals, it is an inherently dangerous activity that carries the risk of serious injuries or even death. A hunting accident can happen in an instant, but it can change someone’s life forever.

When hunting accidents occur, they often result from entirely preventable causes. Understanding these issues underscores why it is important to carefully follow hunting rules and regulations, and to know what to do and how to protect your rights if someone you love was involved in a hunting accident.

Five Most Common Causes of Hunting Incidents

Roughly 1,000 firearm-related hunting accidents occur every year, with approximately 100 of those resulting in fatalities. The five most common causes of hunting accidents are:

1. Firing outside of a safe zone, such as when a hunter swings while aiming for a moving target.
2. Failure to properly identify a target, which can occur when a hunter mistakes another hunter for a game animal.
3. Mishandling a firearm.
4. Misidentifying a target, such as shooting beyond the hunter’s sight or when the victim enters the line of fire.
5. Shooting at night.

What To Do Immediately After an Accidental Shooting

If an accidental hunting shooting does occur, your actions in the immediate aftermath can mean the difference between life and death.

1. Ensure the scene is safe. Secure all firearms, unload them, and place them in a safe location to prevent any additional injuries.
2. Call 9-1-1 to report the incident. Be prepared to provide your exact location using GPS coordinates, if available. Describe the nature of the injury and the number of injured people, as well as basic patient information, including the age and gender of the victim, their level of consciousness, the status of their airway, breathing, and circulation, a short description of the incident, and any pertinent medical history.
3. Provide first aid. Control the bleeding, treat the victim for shock, and monitor breathing and pulse.
4. Do not try to remove the bullet.
5. Keep the victim calm and still, and provide psychological first aid until medical personnel arrive.

Once the victim is stabilized, do your best to preserve the accident scene. Note the location of people and equipment, and do not move firearms or other evidence unless necessary for safety. Contact local law enforcement and gather contact information from all witnesses. If possible, take photographs of the scene.

Tips to Avoid a Hunting Accident

Gun safety and proper handling of a firearm are every hunter’s responsibility. While most hunters are serious about gun safety, hunting accidents can still happen. Hunters can reduce the likelihood of a hunting accident by:

• Treating every firearm as if it is loaded
• Pointing the muzzle in a safe direction, away from yourself and others at all times
• Keeping your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot at a clearly identified target
• Being certain of your target, including what is in front of and behind it, before firing
• Positively identifying your target as legal game
• Carrying your firearm with the action open when not actively hunting
• Storing ammunition separate from firearms when travelling to and from hunting areas

Being visible to others is equally important. Under Ohio law, hunters must wear a vest, coat, jacket, or coveralls that are either solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange. While a hat is not explicitly required, it is strongly recommended for improved visibility. The bright color makes hunters visible to others but is not detectable by most game animals. Do not wear white, brown, tan, or black outer clothing that could be mistaken for deer or other game.

Individuals hunting from a stand or blind should mark their location with orange flagging or markers so others can see their position.

Hunters should communicate with others in the hunting party about positions and movements, establish clear shooting zones to avoid crossfire, and announce their presence when approaching other hunters.

Protect Your Rights After a Hunting Accident

Determining liability for an accidental shooting while hunting is generally fairly straightforward. The person who pulled the trigger is responsible. Regardless of whether the shooter thought they saw something else or made another unintentional mistake, they are responsible. Hunters are required to follow all gun safety rules and precautions at all times, and failure to do so constitutes negligence.

In addition to the hunter, other parties may share liability. The personal injury attorneys at Robenalt Law can analyze your situation, assist you in evaluating your options, and help you and your family recover the compensation you deserve.

Contact Robenalt Law Today

With offices in Cleveland and Columbus, Robenalt Law handles personal injury claims for hunting accidents throughout Ohio and nationwide. Call our Cleveland office at (216) 223-7535 or our Columbus office at (614) 695-3800 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.