Florida’s Tragic Drowning Death Accidents and What You Can Do to Help Prevent Them
For many Floridians, Florida’s almost year-round sunny weather represents an excellent reason to seek out a house with a pool in the backyard. After a long day at work, there are few things more relaxing than being able to come home and jump into your pool to cool off and relax. And for the children in the family, a pool represents a source of endless fun and playtime. Sadly, pools in Florida can also have grim implications for the little ones who love them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about ten people die from accidental drowning every day, including two people under the age of 14. And according to the Florida Department of Health, Florida leads the country in drowning deaths of children ages 1-4 years. Tragically, that equates to enough children to fill three to four preschool classrooms who drown before their fifth birthday.
Where Can These Tragedies Happen and Who is Responsible?
Many of these unfortunate accidents happen in backyard swimming pools. And even for families without a pool directly in the backyard, there are many commercial pools throughout the state. This means that drownings can also happen everywhere from apartment complex pools to pools at hotels to those at water parks. If there is a pool, then a tragedy can unfortunately occur in it.
Regardless of the physical location of the pool, the owner of the property where it is located has a responsibility to take reasonable precautions to make sure that his or her swimming pool is safe. When this responsibility is not upheld, then liability can be incurred and highlighted in a premises liability claim.
Are Drownings the Only Tragedies That Can Occur?
Unfortunately, near drowning incidents can also lead to tragic circumstances. Near drowning incidents occur when a person almost dies from suffocating under water because the person is unable to breathe for a substantial amount of time. These incidents often occur as the result of factors such as the person having poor swimming skills, consuming alcohol while swimming, or panicking in the water.
People who experience a near drowning incident will typically need medical attention as they can suffer from serious injuries such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and even permanent vegetative states.
What Can Property Owners Do to Help Keep Swimmers Safe?
- Install a fence around your pool area that contains a latch outside the reach of children
- Always supervise the pool or designate another adult to do so
- Make sure that you know how to swim and consider learning CPR
- Avoid drinking alcohol while supervising children in the pool
Allow Us to Help.
If you have tragically suffered an injury at a pool or lost a loved one to a drowning accident, there is a good chance that you are entitled to compensation. You need experienced personal injury attorneys who can closely examine the circumstances of what you have experienced and ensure that you maximize any benefits you are legally entitled to. Contact the experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm today and we will help you recover the compensation you are entitled to.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Daytona, Jacksonville, and Bradenton areas.
Resources:
cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/prevention/drowning-prevention/index.html
