Washington, D.C. has plenty of areas to enjoy the water, from rivers and lakes to public swimming pools and water parks. While swimming is a healthy and fun activity for many D.C. residents, it’s not without its risks. Both children and adults are at risk of drowning or suffering an injury due to the negligent or reckless actions of someone else.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a drowning accident in the Washington, D.C. area, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced personal injury lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO are committed to obtaining justice and the maximum compensation for injuries or deaths caused by negligence. We are ready to help you hold the responsible party accountable. Call us today at (301) 220-0050 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Why Do I Need A Drowning Lawyer?
Pursuing compensation after a tragic accident should not be attempted without the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. A skilled drowning and near-drowning personal injury lawyer will be able to help you file a lawsuit or injury claim against the negligent party. An attorney will protect your rights and work hard to get you the full and fair compensation you deserve after a drowning accident.
A lawyer will assist you or the injured victim in navigating the complicated legal process in any drowning case, including near drownings, swimming pool accidents, child drowning accidents, hotel drownings, water park drownings, and apartment pool drownings. An attorney can also help you determine which party was negligent and liable for the drowning accident. Negligent behaviors that can result in an accidental drowning include:
- Failure to post caution signs about any hazards that could potentially result in a drowning
- Failure to secure a swimming pool with a gate or barrier
- Failure to upkeep pools and ensure safe swimming conditions by removing any hazards, installing drain covers, and maintaining appropriate chemical and water levels
- Failure to properly train lifeguards and pool staff
Injury claims where a clear and present danger at the pool was obvious, but the pool or property owner did nothing about it, qualify as negligence lawsuits. Under premises law, property owners have a duty to make sure the conditions at the pool are reasonably safe for all who swim in the pool. When that duty fails, catastrophic injuries or even death can occur.
If you are thinking about bringing a wrongful death claim or injury lawsuit from an accidental drowning, allow the compassionate and experienced Washington, D.C. personal injury attorneys at CHASENBOSCOLO to help. Call (301) 220-0050 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Why Choose CHASENBOSCOLO To Handle My Case?
At CHASENBOSCOLO, we always put our clients’ needs first and treat them with kindness and respect. We routinely deal with traumatic drowning injuries and tragic wrongful death cases, and we fully understand that people who come to us are going through a challenging time. Our attorneys approach every case with utmost compassion and sympathy for the victim. We want to help by handling all the complex legal matters involved with your claim so you can focus on your recovery. Our support staff is available 24/7 to ensure that you will get a prompt response whenever you reach out to us.
CHASENBOSCOLO founders Barry M. Chasen and Benjamin T. Boscolo have received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest level of excellence in the legal field. Our managing partners each have more than 30 years of experience in protecting the rights of accident victims and fighting to recover compensation for them. Our attorneys take pride in compassionately representing clients and helping them overcome whatever obstacles they might face.
We also believe that you should not have to worry about being able to afford a lawyer, which is why we offer our No Fee Guarantee.® We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay a thing unless you receive a financial award. At CHASENBOSCOLO, our drowning accident lawyers will do whatever it takes to help you recover from your injuries so you can move forward with your life.
Washington, D.C. Drowning Cases We Handle
In addition to drowning fatalities, water-related accidents can result in a range of injuries, including but not limited to:
- Brain Damage: Brain damage can result from blunt force to the skull or from lack of oxygen to the brain. If someone dives into shallow water or falls from a diving board, for example, they may hit their head and cause brain damage. Also, being underwater without breathing for too long disrupts the flow of oxygen to a person’s brain and may also cause brain damage. Brain damage often affects everyday life skills, such as motor skills and the ability to talk and think.
- Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries: A person who dives into a shallow pool or falls into a body of water may break their vertebrae, which can extremely painful or may result in nerve and spinal cord damage or even paralysis. A severe neck or back injury could need surgery or result in permanent disability.
- Fractures and Soft Tissue Injuries: Broken bones, muscle strains, and torn ligaments may result from swimming or diving accidents. Fractures, strains, and sprains may occur when pool diving boards or ladders fail.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pool or drowning accident, it’s critical that you hire an attorney to ensure that you are able to recover all the economic and noneconomic damages you’re entitled to, including but not limited to:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Funeral and burial expenses in the case of a fatal drowning
The experienced Washington, D.C. personal injury attorneys at CHASENBOSCOLO will be able to assess your case and give you an idea of the damages you may be owed as a result of your drowning accident. Our lawyers will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive full and fair compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most common questions we get asked by clients CHASENBOSCOLO regarding drowning incidents. If you have any further questions about your particular drowning accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to our compassionate and helpful attorneys by calling (301) 220-0050.
What are some common causes of drowning accidents?
Common causes of drowning include improperly trained lifeguard staff, defective safety equipment, inadequate warning signs, slippery pool decks, ineffective gates or barriers around the pool, defective swimming drains, and contaminated water.
What can I expect from a settlement in a drowning case?
If your loved one died as a result of a tragic drowning accident, the case will be evaluated on a number of factors, including the age of the victim, the income of the victim, and the economic losses that you and your family now face. Noneconomic damages will also be considered such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of quality of life. The compassionate and experienced Washington, D.C. wrongful death lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO will be able to give you an idea as to what to expect regarding a settlement. We will also be able to address all your concerns and questions as to how long it will likely take to resolve the case.
Should I settle my drowning claim or go to court?
This can only be determined by an experienced lawyer, usually after months of work on the case. At CHASENBOSCOLO, our experienced trial lawyers prepare every case as if it will go to trial with a goal of providing our clients the highest possible settlement option. We will present you with all settlement offers, and you will have ultimately the say in whether to settle your case or go to trial. Because we prepare every case for trial, we are more than ready to try your case in court.
Drowning Statistics
Over a 10-year span, from 2005-2014, there was an average of 3,536 fatal accidental drownings (not counting boating-related incidents) each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That breaks down to about 10 drowning deaths each day. An additional 332 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.
About 20% of people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger, and for every child who dies from drowning, five receive emergency room treatment for nonfatal injuries.
Over 50% of drowning victims treated in emergency rooms require hospitalization or transfer for further care. This is in stark contrast to the hospitalization rate of roughly 6% for all unintentional injuries.
Almost 80% of individuals who drown are male, according to the CDC.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in children aged 1–14 years.
Drowning is the No. 3 leading cause of accidental injury death worldwide, according to WHO, making up 7% of all injury-related deaths. An estimated 360,000 drowning deaths occur worldwide every year.
Contact a Washington, D.C. Drowning Lawyer Today
If you or a someone you love suffered severe injuries or was killed in a drowning accident in the greater Washington, D.C. area, you need the help of the compassionate and experienced attorneys at CHASENBOSCOLO. We are here to answer all questions you may have in a free and confidential initial consultation. Call us at (301) 220-0050 or contact us online today.
