Summer is a great time to cool off with a dip in the pool or at a lake, but the water can be dangerous, and every summer New Jersey sees its fair share of drownings. The impact of a drowning on the lives of the victim’s survivors can be significant, affecting many areas of their life, especially if the victim was a child.
How big is the drowning problem?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each day in the United States, approximately 10 people lose their lives in drowning incidents and of these fatalities, two involve children age 14 or under. And, for each child that dies in a drowning incident, five end up receiving care in the emergency room for nonfatal submersion injuries.
Compensation following a drowning incident
When a child loses their life in a drowning incident in a public pool, the child’s parents often want to hold the responsible parties accountable through a wrongful death claim. In a wrongful death claim if another party negligently caused the death of a loved one, causing the victim’s survivors to suffer damages, the survivors may be able to pursue compensation.
For example, many public pools and beaches have lifeguards. If a lifeguard was negligent or reckless, and a child drowns because of this, the operator of the pool or beach may be the subject of a wrongful death claim. Similarly, a drowning due to a lack of maintenance or the violation of pool safety laws and regulations can sometimes form the basis of a wrongful death claim.
Ultimately, when a parent loses a child in a drowning incident that could have been prevented but for someone else’s negligence, they will want to pursue the recovery they need. Parents in such situations have many post-accident concerns and each person’s case is unique. Fortunately, personal injury attorneys in the Wayne area can provide compassionate, one-on-one representation, with the goal of reaching a fair and agreeable resolution.