Drowning Accident

The Arizona Republic reports that a former member of the Arizona State University swim team recently drowned while swimming in the campus pool with a friend. The friend said the two were swimming when he noticed his 22-year-old friend at the bottom of the pool. The man was already dead when first responders arrived and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s office has ruled the man’s death an accidental drowning.

While investigators do not know why this man drowned, some Arizona swimming pool drowning accidents occur because pool owners fail to take proper safety precautions. Swimming pools can be great fun, but they also pose a serious risk. Adult swimmers need to take responsibility for their own safety, but even those who obey all possible safety rules are not immune to injury or death if a pool owner fails to maintain the pool properly and make sure it is safe for swimmers to use.

Some of the possible risks of swimming in a pool that is not properly maintained and secured are:

• A defective pump that is not repaired immediately can cause shock or electrocution.
• An improperly maintained pool area that causes a swimmer to trip and fall into the pool. This can cause fractures, head injuries, or other serious injuries.
• Damaged pool liners or bottoms that can increase the risk of injuries, as swimmers can get their arms or legs caught in these defects.

If you lost a loved one because a swimming pool owner did not maintain the pool area properly, or because the owner knew about a defect and did not take steps to repair it, contact the Phoenix wrongful death attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. We have the experience needed to help you through every step of your case. Call us at (602) 457-6222 to schedule an appointment to discuss your case.

On April 9, an Arizona father experienced a parent’s worst nightmare when his sons never returned from their afternoon bike ride. After realizing they were missing, the father called the police and initiated a search. The Arizona Republic reports that the father found his sons’ bikes alongside a local canal. There were no signs of his sons at first, but a bystander then pulled the younger son out of the water alive. When police found the older brother he had no pulse and was not breathing, he died that evening.

Now nearly 4,000 people have joined forces to campaign for barriers around unprotected waterways like Gilbert Canal. Barriers 4 Brenan has members from at least 12 states, all of whom want to help other families avoid the loss of a child. The Arizona Department of Health Services reports a total of four life-threatening incidents at Arizona canals in 2009. Although pool-related incidents are more common, canal drowning incidents in Arizona occur every year.

Unfortunately, the organizations that own these canals are resistant to placing fencing around them. They cite lack of funding as to why they refuse to install protective fencing. Company representatives suggest educating parents and their children about the dangers of canals so they will stay away from them without each organization having to install fencing or other protective measures.

Canal drowning accidents change lives forever. If your child has suffered serious injuries or passed away due to a canal accident, speak to an experienced Phoenix child wrongful death attorney at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. can help you get the money you need to pay for medical expenses or funeral costs. While nothing can ever soothe the pain of losing a child, an experienced attorney can protect your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us at (602) 457-6222 to discuss your case at no cost to you.

Water-related incidents are responsible for 31 Arizona deaths that occurred between January 1, 2011 and August 7, 2011. This includes the deaths of two teens and 14 children. The following established water safety rules can help prevent accidental drowning and other water-related incidents.

• Always supervise children and teens during swimming and other water activities. Even teenagers can succumb to the effects of cramps or illness while in the water, increasing the risk for injury or death. Supervising children and teens at all times ensures that they always have help available if an incident occurs.
• If you regularly supervise children and teens in a swimming pool, get certified in CPR and first aid. Knowing how to help victims before emergency responders arrive can make the difference between saving a life and losing a life.
• Never let young children swim alone, even if there is adult supervision outside of the pool. An adult should always be within arm’s reach of a young swimmer.
• Ensure that children wear properly-fitted floatation devices while swimming. These devices should fit tightly so they do not fall off during water activities.
• Maintain all pool equipment and accessories properly, replacing or repairing items as soon as you notice any damage. Broken pool equipment can injure swimmers or trap them in the water, increasing the risk of a Phoenix child drowning accident.

These tips should help parents and family members keep their kids safe while swimming. Unfortunately, following pool safety rules does not always prevent accidents, especially in apartment complex pools or public pools maintained by others. Negligence sometimes creates unsafe conditions that even the most cautious swimmers cannot overcome.

The Arizona child death attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. help the families of drowning victims and swimming pool accidents get fair compensation for their irreparable losses. If your child was the victim of a swimming pool accident caused or contributed to by negligence, contact us at 602-457-622 for a no-obligation case assessment and free consultation.