A great way to cool off in the summer is to take a trip with family and friends to the beach, swimming pool, lake, or any body of water. Unfortunately, what should be a fun and relaxing day can end in tragedy. Since early 2011, CPSC has reported over 50 drowning accident deaths and over 60 near-drowning accidents. It is estimated that 10 people drown each day and over three-quarters of these fatalities are children under the age of five. Those who survive near-drowning accidents can be left with serious injuries to the brain or spinal cord.
Recently in Northeast Philadelphia, a terrible accident occurred in Pennypack Park when a teenager named Brandon Boyle (13) and his little brother (11) were playing in the creek after days of rain. The younger brother managed to make it out, but Brandon was swept by the current. Search and rescue crews looked for Brandon for three days until he was spotted floating in the creek by a passing pedestrian.
Across the state of Pennsylvania between 2005 and 2009, there have been a reported 615 drowning accident deaths. For people ages 19 and younger during that time period, drowning was the sixth-leading cause of injury deaths. It is also reported that half of all drowning deaths occurred in natural water settings. Almost 90 percent of natural-water drowning deaths involved male victims.
A Lawyer’s Experience
A few years ago, Gary Heslin represented a family whose 14-year-old son was found at the bottom of a swimming pool drowned. During Gary’s investigation, he learned that it was very sunny and crowded. Many lifeguards were present at the time, which made it difficult to understand how this sort of thing could have happened. To help with the investigation, Gary hired a swimming pool expert who determined how the accident occurred. The height of the lifeguard stand was found to be the problem. On this sunny day, the lifeguards couldn’t see past the reflection of the surface. If the lifeguard stand was higher, this tragedy may have been avoided.
Many may think it is easy to spot someone who is drowning. They would expect to see that person thrashing around and calling for help from anyone nearby. Drowning accidents are actually silent. Someone who is drowning cannot breathe and therefore cannot speak or make any sound at all. To spot signs of drowning, look for someone with only their head above water raised to the sky and mouth open. They may not even be kicking. Drowning also doesn’t just happen in rapidly moving water. It can happen in any area with water, such as public swimming pools, spas, and even bathtubs.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Swimming pool and drowning accidents can require an extensive investigation to determine who is liable. The drowning and swimming pool accident attorneys at The Heslin Law Firm have decades of experience fighting for the rights of victims who have suffered preventable injuries. When serious and tragic injuries caused by swimming pool accidents occur, it’s possible the victim may need lifelong medical care, which can be very expensive. If a loved one has been a victim of a drowning accident, you may be eligible for financial compensation that pays for medical expenses, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
Drowning accidents fall under an area of law known as premises liability. These laws state that landowners must maintain safe conditions on their property to ensure there are no hazardous conditions that may leave someone injured. If the drowning death or accident is found to be caused by negligence, the family can try to recover compensation for their losses.
Request a Free Consultation
If you need the help of an experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer with your swimming pool drowning accident, call The Heslin Law Firm to schedule a free consultation. When you hire a lawyer, all aspects of your case will be handled with great care. We will keep you informed every step of the way. Call 215-332-0300 or contact us on the web.