It’s a tragic affair to lose a loved one to accidental drowning. The sad fact is it’s a relatively common cause of death, not just in the US but around the world. Given the widespread nature of this issue, it’s important to take the proper precautions to protect you and your loved ones. And if you happened to have lost a loved one in this way at no fault of your own, you may want to pursue compensation for your grievous loss. The following will give a broad overview of drowning accidents and will offer brief advice on obtaining remuneration for drowning-related injuries.
Worldwide
Every year there are around 360,000 deaths caused by accidental drowning. That accounts for seven percent of deaths associated with injuries, making it the third leading cause of injury-related death. And according to the World Health Organization, the problem could be much worse, as data collection around drowning is insufficient.
Domestic
The US has its fair share of drowning accidents. For children between the ages of 1 and 4, drowning is the number one cause of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), between 2005 and 2014, there were about 3,500 drowning deaths per year, making for 10 deaths a day. And that’s not including the extra 332 annual deaths related to boating accidents.
Gender dynamics appear to play a role as well, as males account for 80 percent of all drowning deaths. Likewise, boys drown four times more often than their female counterparts. Young girls are still subject to a fair amount of risk. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for female children between 1 and 4.
Additionally, due in part to a lack of access to swimming pools, poorer minorities tend to drown more often than middle class whites. African Americans (aged 5 to 19) drown 5.5 times more often than their white counterparts.
Prevention
Like any injury, there are some simple measures you can take to prevent the worst from happening. The CDC highlights some of these. It might be obvious, but swimming ability is an important factor. If you or your loved one is able to take swimming lessons, you probably should do it. A study published by the National Institute of Health found that, for children between 1 and 4, formal lessons can lead to an 88 percent decrease in the likelihood of drowning. Additionally, if you happen to own a pool, it’s a good idea to erect a fence (or barrier) around it. Another study concluded that having a four-sided fence can greatly reduce risk of drowning. A 1998 paper found that 87 percent of drowning incidents in Australia were due to a lack of barrier. Lastly, it’s paramount that you or someone you trust supervises your children as they swim. Supervision can be key to preventing drowning. This means staying focused on your child, especially when a large group of adults are gathered around the pool.
Worst-Case Scenario
Sometimes no matter how hard you try to prevent something like this from happening, the worst-case scenario becomes a reality. If you or your loved one has been injured or has recently passed due to drowning, you may be able to obtain compensation for damages. There have been cases where drowning-related injuries or death have led to high levels of remuneration. This can be helpful as you attempt to move forward.
As pointed out by Shapiro & Sternlieb, LLC, there are various forms of negligence that could result in drowning. For instance, if your child was under the supervision of a lifeguard who was needlessly distracted, this could count as negligence and could lead to compensation. Additionally, if you find out that the pool was improperly managed and that this poor management resulted in defective pool drains or other faulty equipment, then once again you might be able to pursue recompense.
One of the best ways to ensure you obtain the maximum compensation is to retain an attorney with years of experience dealing with drowning cases. He or she will be able to guide you through the process as you focus on rehabilitation and getting back to normal.
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