Handling Cases Nationwide
During the summer, many families across the country head to pools, lakes, and other natural and manmade bodies of water to relax and “beat the heat.” However, it is a sobering statistic that each year about 3,500 individuals die from unintentional drownings. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that:
- About ten people die from unintentional drownings each day;
- Twenty percent – about 2 people per day – of these people are children aged 14 years or younger;
- More children aged 4 years and younger die from unintentional drownings than from any other cause except for birth defects;
- Nearly 80% of people who die from unintentional drownings are male;
- African-Americans have a significantly higher risk of dying in an unintentional drowning incident.
A drowning death can be extremely traumatic for the victim’s family and loved ones, especially if the victim is a young child. A drowning death attorney can help the surviving family members obtain monetary compensation from the person or entity responsible for the drowning death. While no amount of money can bring a deceased loved one back, compensation can help the family cope with financial and mental losses they have experienced as a result of the accident.
What Causes Drowning Deaths?
There are a variety of factors that can cause or contribute to a drowning death. These include:
Inadequate supervision
A child or adult who is unable to swim can drown in a matter of minutes. A pool, lake, or beach staffed by lifeguards or a beach patrol is no guarantee of safety. If a lifeguard or similar professional is distracted from his or her duties, even momentarily, a drowning death can result. In such a case, the lifeguard or similar professional may be responsible for paying the deceased’s family compensation.
Alcohol use
Alcohol and swimming or boating do not mix. Even if your loved one did not consume any alcohol, a careless boater may have consumed so much alcohol that he or she cannot operate a boat safely. Your loved one may be struck as a result, causing a drowning death. A person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and who contributes to a drowning death may be ordered to pay compensation to the deceased’s family.
Improper or inadequate first aid
Lifeguards and beach patrol members are supposed to be trained in first aid, including how to perform CPR. If a lifeguard or beach patrol member is inadequately trained or performs CPR in a careless and uniformed manner, it may contribute to your loved one’s passing. Compensation may be available in such a case.
What Compensation Can I Potentially Receive?
You may be entitled to bring a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your deceased loved one. This type of lawsuit seeks to obtain compensation the deceased person would have been entitled to based upon his or her injuries. This would include final medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses and burial expenses.
You may also be entitled to bring a survivorship action to recover compensation for your own losses. This would include compensation for your loved one’s lost future income, the loss of your loved one’s companionship and company, and your own mental anguish and suffering.
Call Zinda Law Group Now
The assistance of one of Zinda Law Group’s experienced drowning death lawyers can significantly increase the chances that you will recover compensation following a drowning death. We thoroughly investigate our clients’ cases to ensure that all available evidence is located, preserved, and used to prove their cases. Call us at (800) 863-5312 and learn how we can use our knowledge and experience to help you and your family following your loved one’s tragic drowning death.
