Illinois Hunting Accident Lawyer

Hunters across the United States take to the field during various hunting seasons. While hunting is generally considered a safe activity, equipment malfunctions or accidental discharges can sometimes lead to serious accidents.

If you’ve been injured in a hunting accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, and property damage.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we offer a free consultation to help you explore your legal options. Whether a property owner failed to maintain a safe environment or a member of your hunting party caused an accidental injury, our legal team is here to assist you in navigating your case.

Hunting Accident Statistics

• There are almost 39 million hunting licenses registered in the United States [1].
• In 2022, there were nine major hunting safety incidents in Illinois and ten minor incidents [2].
• The International Hunter Education Association predicts that between 300 and 500 fatalities occur each year from tree stands. Elevated hunting stands lead to another 6,000 injuries each year [3].
• Illinois reports hundreds of hunting violations each year [4].
• An estimated 24.8 injuries occur per 100,000 hunters in the United States [5].
• An average of 1,000 people per year in the USA and Canada are accidentally shot by hunters each year [6].
• Failure to identify the target is the most common cause of hunting accidents. Shooters swinging on games is the second-leading cause of shooting accidents [7].

Common Types of Hunting Accidents

Common hunting accidents include the following:

• Falling from tree stands
• Gunshot wounds
• Environmental injury (falling tree branches or extreme weather)
• ATV or vehicle injury
• Wildlife injury

The Game Commission defines a hunting accident as any injury from the discharge of firearms or crossbows during actual hunting or fur-taking activities. Hunting injuries, regardless of severity, often require immediate medical attention, with many having a long-lasting impact on the victim’s life.

Common Hunting Injuries

Hunting injuries may be short- or long-term, depending on the severity. Some of the most common hunting injuries include the following:

• Falling from high heights
• Broken bones
• Brain damage
• Gunshot wounds
• Cuts
• Spinal injury
• Hypothermia
• Soft tissue injury

Liability for a Hunting Accident Injury

Liability refers to the party responsible for serious injuries sustained while hunting. Any of the following parties could be to blame when hunting accidents occur:

• Yourself – A shooting accident can occur from the hunter. A hunter who improperly uses equipment or doesn’t wear the appropriate safety gear could put themselves in harm.
• Property Owners – A property owner who allows hunters on their property could be held liable if they don’t maintain the land and ensure it’s safe for recreational use.
• Other hunters – Accidental shootings from other hunters can deem them responsible if an accident occurs. Many hunters break off from their groups, which could lead to a fellow hunter causing an accident involving those in the same hunting party.
• Hunting equipment manufacturers – Improper or faulty equipment could also lead to a firearm accident.

Compensation Available for Hunting Accident Victims

Hunting accidents can result in both financial and non-financial losses. If you’re involved in a hunting accident, you may be eligible to recover the following types of damages:

Economic Damages

A successful hunting accident case recovers financial costs, such as:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Property damage
• Diminished earning capacity

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are the emotional impacts of a personal injury case, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Temporary or permanent disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers helps injured hunters recover these costs and more through personal injury cases. Whether seeking compensation from the insurance company, an at-fault hunter, or a product manufacturer, we have the experience you need for a fair settlement offer. Our team is also prepared to take your case to trial when needed.

You Have Limited Time to File a Hunting Accident Claim

Filing a personal injury claim following a hunting accident must typically be done within two years from the date of the incident, though this time frame may vary by state.

To maximize your chances of receiving full compensation, it’s crucial to give your legal team ample time to investigate the accident and build a strong case. Acting promptly ensures that all necessary evidence is gathered and that your claim is filed within the applicable statute of limitations.

How to Prove Negligence for a Hunting Accident

Personal injury cases require proof of negligence. Our hunting accident attorneys will build your case to help through the following four aspects of proving someone else’s negligence so you can seek compensation for your damages.

1. Proof of duty of care – Before proving negligence, we must establish that the liable party held a legal duty of care for your well-being.
2. Breached duty of care – To ensure the responsible party is held accountable, we must also show that they breached that legal duty of care.
3. Causation – It’s also necessary to prove that negligence caused the injuries.
4. Actual damages – Your legal team must also show proof of actual damages that can be compensated through a personal injury claim.

Contact a Hunting Accident Lawyer Today!

Hunting accidents can be life-changing. You expect other hunters to exercise reasonable care to help avoid accidents. However, that doesn’t always happen, and a lack of experience or defective equipment can lead to an injured hunter.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a hunting accident, contact the skilled legal team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. With our extensive experience in handling hunting accident cases, our premises liability attorneys are equipped to help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Call us at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form.

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Resources: [1] Statista, [2] DNR Illinois, [3] New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, [4] Advantage News, [5] Gitnux, [6] World Metrics, [7] Hunter-Ed

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.