Experienced Personal Injury and Product Liability Lawyers Serving Clients in Concord, Charlotte and Throughout North Carolina
As soon as the days get longer and warmer, people start heading to the water. Swimming pools, lakes, the ocean-they all provide a place to cool off and have some fun. Entire families gather by the poolside or shore, and sometimes people can be lost in the crowds. It can take only a moment before someone goes under the water and doesn't come back up right away, all before anyone has even realized that person is gone. Drowning accidents can be devastating to a family, especially because they can happen so fast. One second your loved one is swimming happily beside you, and the next second, they can be seriously injured or even killed. If you or someone you love have been injured or suffered a loss as a result of a drowning accident, you should talk to a personal injury lawyer with our firm immediately. At the Olsinski Law Firm, our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers has decades of hands-on experience helping victims of drowning accidents recover the compensation they need to start the process of moving on with their lives.
Is Drowning Always Fatal?
No, there are two types of drowning incidents, fatal and non-fatal drownings. Medically speaking, drowning occurs when someone suffers “respiratory impairment” as a result of being submerged underwater. Thus, drowning starts to happen as soon as you are underwater long enough that your brain stops receiving the necessary amount of oxygen.
Drowning Related Injuries
Even non-fatal drownings can have a profound impact on someone’s life. While there are several drowning-related injuries, the most common is hypoxia or a lack of oxygen to the brain and other organs. In most drowning cases, the brain is the first organ to suffer from a lack of oxygen. In fact, being submerged in water and unable to breathe for as little as 40 seconds can cause an adult to experience hypoxia. Children may suffer signs of a lack of oxygen to the brain in as little as 20 seconds. This can quickly lead to an irreversible brain injury.
When a drowning or near drowning accident occurs as a result of negligence or a defective product, the victim or family of the victim might be able to hold the responsible party accountable for their injuries or loss. Every case is different, so it is important to discuss your particular options with a personal injury attorney.
Children Are at the Greatest Risk of Drowning
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death among children under the age of four and the second-leading cause of death for children between the ages of five and nine (trailing motor vehicle accidents).
In large part, this is because children do not know how to swim and rely on their parents, other adults, and flotation devices to keep them safe. However, lifeguards, neighbors, and companies that manufacture life vests and other flotation devices make mistakes. And too often, children suffer as a result.
Families who have a child who suffered a fatal or near-fatal drowning may be able to claim compensation from the party that was responsible for their injuries or death.
Was Your Family Affected by a Fatal or Near-Fatal Drowning?
If you or someone you love recently suffered serious injuries as a result of a drowning incident, reach out to the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, for immediate assistance. Our team of Charlotte personal injury lawyers is standing by to answer your questions, explain your rights, and discuss how we can help your family seek justice for what you’ve been through. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with a Charlotte personal injury lawyer, give us a call at 704-405-2580. You can also reach one of our Concord personal accident lawyers at 704-918-4747. We take all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning we will not bill you for our services unless we can connect you with compensation for what you’ve been through.
