Washington DC Swimming Accident Attorney

Serious injuries deserve experienced attorneys

If you or a loved one was injured as the result of a swimming accident, you may find it helpful to seek legal counsel from a swimming accident attorney Washington DC victims have gotten help from in the past. If someone close to you has died as the result of drowning or other swimming related accidents, talking to a compassionate swimming accident attorney may help you to make informed decisions about what your next steps should be.

Dangerous Waters

When summer comes around, swimming pools, water parks, lakes and beaches become favorite places for families to relax and have fun in Washington, DC. Despite the public perception of safety, there is a serious threat of injury and drowning while swimming, especially for children. If you or someone close to you has suffered as the result of a swimming accident, you may find it helpful to discuss your situation with a swimming accident attorney Washington DC is glad to have on its side.

Poolside and other swimming related accidents are the second leading cause of death for children under 14 years of age. For children 1 to 4 years old this is second only to death caused by birth injuries. For children 4 to 14, accidental drowning is second only to deaths caused by car accidents. For people age 15 and older, swimming accidents and drowning are more likely to occur in open water such as at a lake or beach.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a swimming related accident, an experienced swimming accident attorney Washington DC residents have grown to trust may be able to help you determine if you are entitled to compensation for this.

Drowning

The most common accident for children under the age of 14 is unintentional drowning. Drowning can occur for multiple reasons including lack of swimming ability, lack of proper barriers, lack of supervision, and other preexisting medical conditions.

Although 92% of drowning victims survive, it is estimated that 5,000 children are hospitalized each year as a result of drowning while swimming.

Approximately 15% of children hospitalized from drowning die and another 20% suffer serious, and often permanent, brain injuries.

Other common injuries that can be sustained while swimming are fractures, sprains, breaks and concussions. These are often caused by slip and fall incidents but occur for many different reasons as well.

If a child or someone close to you has suffered because of a partial drowning, or has died as the result of drowning, a compassionate swimming accident attorney Washington DC community members have gotten help from in the past may be able to help you to make an informed decision about what your next steps should be.

Public and Privately Owned Water

Drowning accidents can happen in both publicly and privately owned swimming pools, lakes, beaches, water parks, and spas. The likelihood of drowning in a body of water varies depending on the age group.

While large, crowded public pools may seem more dangerous, most swimming pool accidents occur at private residences. Even if a pool is part of a private residence, the pool owner has a duty to keep the pool safe for those s/he may allow to use the pool.

Unfortunately, terrible accidents also happen at public pools. Public pool owners and operators are required to take steps to ensure the safety of swimmer, including having an adequate number of qualified lifeguards on duty during swim hours.

Whether it was in a public or private body of water, if you or someone close to you was injured while in the water, you may be in need of a qualified swimming accident attorney Washington DC victims have been able to rely on in the past at Cohen & Cohen, P.C.

It is a horribly common thing for people to have to worry about whether they may need the help of a swimming accident law firm Washington D.C. swimmers and their families have been able to rely on in the past.

Pools of all shapes and sizes, hot tubs and spas, lakes, oceans and water parks, can provide hours of fun for people of all ages. An unfortunate reality is that danger comers with water fun. If someone close to you was injured in a swimming related accident, it does not matter how minor or how major their injuries appear to be, you may benefit from talking to someone who is trained in this area of law and who is licensed to give legal advice about your particular situation.

Call Cohen & Cohen if you think you may need a top-rated swimming accident law firm Washington D.C. swimming accident victims have sought justice with in the past. Call us today for a free case evaluation. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Swimming Risks

Children and adults are both at risk for swimming related accidents. Thousands of adults die or suffer from major injuries every year as a result of swimming related problems. Every year in the U.S., swimming accidents claim the lives of over 1,000 children under the age of 18. The younger the child is the more at risk they are to injury and drowning while in and around water.

Anyone, but especially an unattended child, can drown in only two inches of water. If your child has been injured as a result of a swimming accident or if you are grieving over the loss of your loved one, getting help from a compassionate swimming accident law firm Washington D.C. families have felt fortunate to have on their side on your team, may help you to feel less alone while helping you to understand what your family’s rights are.

Swimming pool injuries are often the result of improperly designed and constructed pools. Both private and public pool owners have been found guilty of failing to properly secure a pool from unattended children. As well, it is common for swimming pools to not be maintained in good condition.

No matter the person’s age, if someone close to you has been injured in a swimming accident in the D.C. area, or if someone that you love has died as a result of this situation, teaming up with a trustworthy swimming accident law firm Washington D.C. swimming accident victims and their families have had on their side before, may help to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that legal matters often cause people to feel.

Influential Factors in Drowning Accidents

There are various factors that influence a person’s chance of drowning. These include but are not limited to:

• Lack of Supervision: While we tend to think about needing supervision for children, adults who are
  expert swimmers can suffer injury or death from swimming accidents when no
  one else is around.
• Alcohol: Alcohol negatively affects people’s abilities to swim. Alcohol impairs the ability
  to supervise people in a swimming environment.

If someone you love has drowned as a result of a swimming accident in the D.C. area, it can be a very good idea to talk to a swimming accident law firm Washington D.C. victim’s families have found comfort in talking to before. While your devastation and grief are likely overwhelming you, the experienced team at Cohen & Cohen, knows the importance of starting to build a strong case right away in order to protect your family’s rights.

• Subpar Swim Skills: Lots of people of all ages, “know” how to swim but many of these people do not
  have the skills to be completely self-sufficient in a swimming
  environment. Very often, kids and adults who “know” how to swim wind up
  getting injured while “swimming” because of their lack of true swimming skills
  and stamina.
• Barriers: Public and private pools are supposed to have sufficient barriers that completely
  enclose a pool in order to keep out unsupervised swimmers. Unfortunately, this
  is not always the case, or if there is a complete enclosure, faulty gates and
  locks do not always prevent unsupervised swimmers from entering a swimming
  area.
• Seizure Disorder: Even a few inches of water can be life threatening to someone with a seizure
  disorder. If someone who is seizing is in water is unsupervised, or even falls
  face down into a few inches of water, they are at a great risk for getting injured
  in a swimming area.

If you are in the unfortunate situation of needing a lawyer because of a swimming accident, contact Cohen & Cohen to talk to a top-rated swimming accident law firm Washington D.C. is proud to have on its side.

Who should I call if my child is disabled because of a swimming accident?

If your child is disabled because of a swimming accident, you should call an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. As much fun as swimming pools are and as much as children and adults alike are drawn to them, there are an unfortunate number of risks when people jump in the water.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision, an average of 4,900 people received emergency care for injuries suffered in swimming pools and spas in the years 2011 – 2013. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of the 47 percent of children who suffered swimming pool injuries, the injuries occurred at a residential swimming pool or spa; while 27 percent suffered injuries while swimming at a public pool or spa.

Swimming Pool Injuries and Children

According to the CDC:

• Non-fatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage
• More than 50 percent of drowning victims need to be hospitalized or transferred to
  another facility after receiving treatment at an emergency room
• Medical costs for near-drowning victims 14 years old and younger can cost more than
  $8,000 for initial hospital treatment
• For swimming injury victims that are 14 years old and younger, long-term care after an
  accident can cost more than $250,000 per year
• If brain damage is the result of a swimming related injury, the overall cost of medical
  treatment and loss of quality of life can cost more than $5.5 million

If your child has been disabled as a result of a swimming accident, your child and your family may be entitled to compensation for your little one’s injuries. It does not matter whether or not the injury occurred at a public or private pool. Both public and private pool owners have a responsibility to keep their pools safe and up to code. Even if your child slipped out of your site for just a moment and suffered a swimming pool injury as a result, you may be able to recover money for medical bills, long-term care costs, and loss of quality of life.

Ways to Help Prevent Drowning and Swimming Related Injuries

While there are never guarantees for a person’s safety when swimming in a pool, lake or ocean, there are measures that can be taken to help prevent people from drowning and getting injured in pools. Some of these include:

Swimming Lessons Research indicates that children who receive swimming instructions are
less likely to suffer from swimming related injuries and drowning. The sooner a child knows how
to swim or at least float, the more safe they will be around water. They even have swim classes
for infants.
Supervision Having a dedicated adult (or older teen) who is lifeguard certified supervising a pool
area any time children are present, can help to prevent swimming pool tragedies. It is important
that this person is dedicated to keeping their eyes on the pool and/or spa at all times because
many victims of drowning and other swimming accidents, were missing for less than five minutes
when they were discovered unconscious in the water.
Barriers Four-sided fencing or fencing that completely surrounds a pool/spa area, reduces the
risk of children drowning and getting injured in a pool or spa by about 80 percent compared to
pools and spas that are only secured by three-sided fencing.

If your child is disabled because of a swimming accident, it may be in the best interest of your child and your family to discuss your situation with a reputable personal injury lawyer. You can call Cohen & Cohen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a free case evaluation.