West Palm Beach Premises Liability Lawyers Freeman Injury Law Home
Swimming Pool Accident
In our hot and humid Florida climate, few things can be as refreshing as a cool plunge in a swimming pool. Unfortunately, accidental drowning and swimming pool injury accidents occur far too often, and frequently lead to the serious injury or death of a child.
The Florida swimming pool accident attorneys at Freeman Injury Law represent victims and their families who have been injured in a swimming pool accident. Throughout Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Maitland, Orlando and our surrounding cities, we work to help people recover financial compensation for their injuries, and to help them put their lives back together.
Swimming Pool Accident Facts
- An average of 9 people per day are killed in drowning accidents each year in the United States.
- An average of 5,000 children are hospitalized in drowning incidents each year. About 1 in 5 will suffer permanent neurological impairment.
- As many as four people are hospitalized in near-drowning accidents for each person who is killed.
- Drowning is second only to auto accidents as the leading cause of injury related death in children under the age of 14.
- Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1 to 4.
- Most toddlers (those under age 4) drown in home swimming pools – usually their own pool.
- Fenced pools have been shown to reduce accidental drownings by up to 90 percent.
- One in 5 child drowning accidents occur in a public swimming pool with a lifeguard on duty.
Water Related Injuries Fact Sheet: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Swimming pool accidents and near drowning incidents often result in asphyxiation or oxygen starvation. And the medical complications in children may not be known until months or even years after the fact. Timely filing an injury claim is imperative to ensuring that you have the financial resources necessary to assist a pool accident victim in recovering from his or her injuries. Of course we understand that no amount of money can compensate a family for the loss of a child. But even in those cases, we believe it is critical to seek legal guidance for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fighting to ensure that the incident never happens again. And that the life of another child is not claimed due to the negligence of a pool owner or defects in a pool design, construction or operation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there are about 3,300 drowning deaths each year, or an average of about 10 deaths per day. About 1 in 5 drowning deaths involve a child or young teenager. Four children are hospitalized for every child killed in a drowning accident.
Near drowning accidents can cause a range of long-term medical issues, which may take months or even years to present themselves. Loss of memory, coordination and learning problems may result from damage to the brain due to lack of oxygen. Such problems can range for moderate to severe, and can even result in long-term disability or loss of basic functioning.
When children are swimming, an adult should always be within easy reach of the child, and not involved in any other distracting activities – 100% of their focus should be on watching the children in the pool.
Some swimming pool accidents are the result of a swimmer becoming entrapped by the pool’s drain. An article of clothing, hair, jewelry or limb can become entangled or sucked into the pools powerful circulation drain, trapping the victim on the pool floor.
The CDC reports that during the period of 1999-2007, 6 circulation entrapment deaths and 28 injuries occurred in pools, three deaths and 22 injuries took place in hot tubs and spas, and 13 injuries happened in whirlpools.
The year around swimming weather makes Florida one of the deadliest states in the nation when it comes to serious and fatal swimming pool accidents. The swimming pool accident attorneys at Freeman Injury Law urge everyone to exercise extreme caution while swimming, especially when children are present.
Our West Palm Beach swimming pool accident lawyers fight for the rights of accident victims in Florida. For a free, confidential review of the facts in your case, call our offices today.
Freeman Injury Law – (800) 561-7777 -- Someone on YOUR Side
