According to the American Red Cross, drowning accidents account for the deaths of more children than any other cause. It also reports that five children suffer nonfatal submersion injuries requiring emergency medical treatment for every drowning fatality. Whether they happen in a swimming pool or at the beach, the stark reality is that some drownings cannot be prevented. However, many preventable drowning accidents happen because of the negligence or carelessness of another party who should be held accountable.
Our personal injury attorneys at the New York and Florida offices of The Carrion Law Firm, are passionate about providing the victims of drowning accidents and their families with superior legal representation. We change the lives of the people who depend upon us to achieve justice and fair compensation by holding accountable the parties responsible for drowning accidents.
Locations and causes of drowning accidents
It may surprise you, but a bucket of water left unattended could cause the death of a child. Just about any container or body of water may be the location of a drowning, including:
- Bathtubs
- Swimming pools
- Children’s wading pools
- Spas
- Water parks
- Oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and other natural bodies of water
- Manmade canals and waterways, retention ponds
- Septic tanks and water storage tanks
Swimming pool drownings frequently happen due to a lack of supervision. The owners and operators of swimming pools at private homes, resorts, hotels and motels, municipalities, water parks and other facilities have an obligation to provide adequate supervision to prevent drowning accidents. When their negligence causes someone to die or be critically injured, we aggressively pursue compensation for victims and their families.
Other factors that may increase the risk drowning include:
- Lack of or inadequate fencing or barriers around pools, waterways and other locations used for swimming.
- Lack of lifeguards at beaches, swimming pools and other locations open to the public.
- Facilities offering kayaks, boats, canoes, jet skis and other watercraft for rent without providing life jackets or personal floatation devices.
- Failure to provide adequate training to and supervision of lifeguards.
- Failure to post warning signs at locations where a drowning risk exists.
Once we consult with the victim of a drowning accident or the family of a victim, we undertake a thorough investigation focusing on determining its cause and identifying all parties whose negligence may have contributed to the tragedy. This may include property owners, management companies, municipalities and operators of recreation areas.
We work to recover maximum compensation for the victims of drowning accidents
The loss of a loved one is a tragedy that can take a toll on the surviving members of the family. We help families by pursuing wrongful death claims against the parties at fault in causing the accident. Damages recoverable may include funeral expenses, pain and suffering, loss of the love and companionship of the deceased, and lost financial support of their loved one.
A person who survives a drowning accident may suffer serious and life-altering injuries, such as brain damage, requiring long-term care. Our attorneys aggressively pursue damages claims against the at-fault party to ensure that the victim has sufficient financial resources to live comfortably.
Contact our New York and Florida drowning accidents attorney
If you or a family member has been the victim of a drowning accident, the attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm, want you to know that we are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.