Facts and Statistics about Drowning Accidents

Swimming pools are the source of enormous recreation and fun for individuals, families, and their friends. Unfortunately, they can also be the source of tragic injuries and deaths caused by drowning and near-drowning. The Orange County California Fire Authority reports that swimming pools are 14 times more likely to cause the death of a child under the age of four than a motor vehicle. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that, in 2004, 26 percent of all those children who died between the ages of one and four lost their lives through drowning. The CDC reports that fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 1 and 14 in the nation.

The National Safety Council has stated that about 5,000 children aged 14 and less enter hospitals every year in connection with unintentional drowning accidents. 15 percent of these children eventually die while another 20 percent suffer "severe, permanent neurological disability." In a near-drowning incident, the victim will go unconscious due to the lack of oxygen. The longer the lack of oxygen, the more potential for brain damage should the victim be rescued and revived. After four minutes without oxygen, a victim's brain cells begin to die which can result in irreversible brain damage.

Personal Injury Law Firm Serving Dothan, Alabama and Surrounding Areas

Swimming pool accidents are just one scenario in which negligence can lead to serious injuries and death. A young child can die in a drowning incident in a matter of minutes. Those who are rescued may face a future with a permanent disability. When these tragic results follow from negligence on the part of a person or other entity, those who have suffered may have grounds for an injury or wrongful death claim.

The personal injury law firm of Morris, Cary, Andrews, Talmadge & Driggers, LLC has an extensive track record of impressive victories for clients in the personal injury legal field. The attorneys at the firm have been referred to as being some of Alabama's most skilled plaintiff attorneys by "Business Alabama" magazine. Due to its high level of competence, the firm has earned an AV Preeminent (highest) rating by Martindale-Hubbell, a 10 out of 10 Superb rating by Avvo, and has been recognized by Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. If you have been harmed through negligence in an auto accident, swimming pool accident, slip and fall, through nursing home abuse or a defective product, or in any other scenario, contact the firm for a free consultation about your case.