50,000 volts of electricity can be expected within a single electric shock of a taser. The taser actually works by shooting two barbed nitrogen-propelled darts into the skin, or on to the skin, and also clothing, in which the shock of 50,000 volts is delivered into the body. A “drive stun” mode is when simply placing the taser on the skin, instead of shooting it from a gun-like form. Over 350 deaths have occurred as a result of tasers since their production and release. Many view tasers as a non-lethal alternative to disarm, or render a perpetrator immobile in order to capture them. However, recent accidents show the general public of the true misuse of taser guns and the damage the weapons can truly cause.
A Georgia Police Department was recently sued for a wrongful death lawsuit, in which, officers of the department tased a man who died of cardiac arrest due to the taser incident. Reports state that the man was tased over six times, which is over 300,000 volts of electricity collectively. There was also a high risk of serious injury due to the man’s young age and being ill for a known period of time.
Vertigo, pain, disorientation and amnesia can all be experienced when a person meets contact with a taser. Stitches may also be required from tasers since the darts can actually cut the skin. With just a single shot from a taser a stroke, hearing and vision loss, heart attack, sever burns, fractures, and severe neurological damage can occur easily. A study by Taser International has stated that on humans, tasers can cause little injuries and zero deaths. Police departments and defense departments have also down their own individual studies, which state that severe injuries can occur very minimally and the possibility is still decreasing.
Taser studies, however, tend to be a little distant from the truth thanks to the maker and proponents of the device. The company was successful in the beginning in avoiding any liability with incidents that ended in injuries or death in over 100 lawsuits. However, in 2008, the company lost its first liability suit. A growing number of successful lawsuits against the taser companies have increased greatly since then.
Another issue when dealing with tasers is allowing the selling of the weapons to private citizens or security guards where no Federal regulation sets standards. This means people can be in possession of weapons that can result in a high injury rate, or death that have either little or no proper safety training.
If you or a loved one has experienced an injury or death as a result of a taser incident, you may be entitled to compensation, liability, or damages. At The Nahon Firm, PLC, you can expect compassion and determination to get you deserve when dealing with your case.
Our Nashville injury attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Nashville, Davidson County and the surrounding counties. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation.
