What Is the Firearm Lawsuit About?
The firearm lawsuit refers to a growing body of litigation against gun manufacturers, most prominently Sig Sauer, over allegations that certain pistols can fire without the trigger being pulled due to a design defect. The Sig Sauer P320, a striker-fired pistol introduced in 2014 and later adopted by the U.S. military as the M17/M18, is at the center of this litigation. Plaintiffs allege the civilian version of the P320 lacks an external safety feature, unlike the military variant, and that the gun remains fully ready to fire as soon as a round is chambered, making it prone to discharging from impact, being dropped, or other unintended contact.
Because firearms are specifically exempt from regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission under the Consumer Product Safety Act, there is no federal recall authority overseeing these allegations the way there would be for most consumer products. Instead, plaintiffs rely on state product liability law, and some of the litigation's most significant evidence has come from Sig Sauer's own internal records. According to court filings, a 2017 internal risk analysis Sig Sauer prepared for the U.S. Army rated the P320 as a "high" risk for firing unintentionally upon impact.
Sig Sauer disputes that the P320 is defective, maintains the pistol cannot discharge without a trigger pull, and attributes reported incidents to user error, faulty holsters, or improper handling. The company has secured dismissals in a number of cases. This is a genuinely contested area of litigation, and the outcome depends heavily on the specific facts and evidence in each case.
What Injuries Are Linked to Firearm Malfunctions?
Firearm malfunction and defect claims typically involve serious physical injuries resulting from an unintended discharge.
Gunshot Wounds
The most commonly reported injury involves a gunshot wound to the leg, hip, or abdomen, often occurring while the firearm was holstered.
Permanent Disability
Some plaintiffs have suffered lasting nerve damage, mobility limitations, or other permanent injuries from an unintended discharge.
Psychological Trauma
Many plaintiffs experience lasting emotional effects, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and fear of carrying a firearm after an unintentional discharge.
Wrongful Death
In the most severe cases, an unintended discharge has resulted in death, giving rise to a wrongful death claim on behalf of surviving family members.
Multiple Surgeries
Severe gunshot injuries often require emergency surgery, follow-up procedures, physical rehabilitation, and long-term medical care to restore mobility and function.
Nerve Damage
Gunshot wounds can cause permanent nerve injuries, resulting in chronic pain, numbness, weakness, or loss of function in the affected limb.
Sig Sauer disputes that these incidents were caused by a product defect. These figures reflect what has been reported and alleged in ongoing litigation, not a finding of fault in every case.
Who Qualifies to File a Firearm Defect Claim?
Every firearm defect case depends heavily on the specific circumstances of the incident.
Discharge Without Trigger Contact
Claims are strongest when the firearm discharged while holstered, while being carried, or otherwise without the trigger being pulled or contacted.
Documentation of the Incident
Police reports, incident reports, medical records, and preservation of the firearm itself as physical evidence all significantly strengthen a claim.
No History of Unauthorized Modification
Claims are generally stronger when the firearm was unmodified and used as intended, since aftermarket changes can complicate a defect claim.
Specific Model Identification
While the Sig Sauer P320 is the most litigated firearm in this category, claims involving other makes and models with alleged design or manufacturing defects may also apply.
Firearm defect cases require careful evidence preservation and specific technical evidence, and every case depends on its own facts. Contact our team for a free case evaluation to review what happened in your specific incident.
What Is the Current Status of Firearm Defect Litigation?
There is no federal MDL consolidating firearm defect cases. Sig Sauer P320 litigation is proceeding through more than 100 individual and mass lawsuits filed in state and federal courts nationwide, along with two certified class actions: one in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, certified in July 2025, and one filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in November 2025. Neither class action has settled.
The litigation has produced mixed results. In 2024, a Georgia jury awarded $2.35 million in Lang v. Sig Sauer, a verdict upheld on appeal in February 2025. That same year, a Philadelphia jury awarded $1 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages in Abrahams v. Sig Sauer; the trial judge later vacated the punitive damages award, though the compensatory award and the jury's defect finding remain in place. At the same time, Sig Sauer has secured dismissals in roughly 20 other cases, including two dismissed in 2026 after plaintiffs withdrew their claims following discovery. In October 2025, the State of New Jersey filed its own lawsuit against Sig Sauer alleging consumer fraud, separate from the individual injury cases. No global settlement has been reached, and Sig Sauer has not issued a recall.
How Long Do You Have to File a Firearm Lawsuit?
Deadlines for filing a firearm defect lawsuit vary by state, typically falling between two and three years from the date of injury. Some states also apply a statute of repose, an outer deadline based on when the product was manufactured or sold, which can apply separately from the standard injury-based deadline.
Because firearm defect claims often depend on physical evidence and expert examination of the firearm itself, acting quickly matters more in these cases than in many other types of claims. Waiting can also risk the loss or alteration of the firearm as evidence.
Call to find out if your claim is still within the filing window.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Firearm Lawsuit?
Compensation in a firearm defect case depends on the severity of the injury and the strength of the evidence connecting it to a specific product defect, but claims generally cover the following:
- Medical expenses, past and future, including surgery and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium for spouses and family members
- Wrongful death damages, in fatal cases
Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Sig Sauer has also secured case dismissals, and outcomes in this litigation have varied significantly based on the specific facts and evidence presented.
Frequently Asked Questions About Firearm Lawsuits
Talk to a Firearm Lawsuit Attorney Today
Two juries have already found the Sig Sauer P320's design defective, awarding a combined total of more than $3 million in compensatory damages, and more than 100 lawsuits remain active nationwide. If your firearm discharged without a trigger pull and caused injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
We offer free, confidential case reviews with no upfront fees. You only pay if we recover compensation for you. Call 866-582-7177 or fill out our free case evaluation form to find out if you qualify.