Syracuse, New York, Drowning Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Is a Recognized Super Lawyer Who Has Spent Decades Fighting for the Rights of Drowning Accident Victims and Their Loved Ones. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in a Central New York Drowning Accident That Was Not Your Fault, The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Explore Your Best Options for Effective Legal Relief.

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A day at the pool or a family trip to the lake is a fixture of summertime in Upstate New York.

In the warmer months, many people spend a significant amount of time around water, making it easy to underestimate its dangers. After all, Syracuse is far from the ocean and the Great Lakes; there are no raging rivers or riptides in town. However, distance from large bodies of water does not negate the risk of an aquatic accident, with most drownings occurring either at home or somewhere nearby.

Drowning, whether fatal or not, can have a devastating impact on ordinary families. Even with the right insurance policy, the costs of an injury, a complication, or a wrongful death can be far-reaching.

You may not be able to turn the clock back on an accident, but you should not have to pay the price for a drowning that was not your fault. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping families in Syracuse and across the region fight for their right to a fair recovery. A Recognized U.S. News World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build a compelling case for compensation, and we have the results to prove it.

Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a drowning accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

Drowning Accidents: What You Need To Know

Drowning is a leading cause of death for children, teenagers, and adults.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent report, more than 4,000 people fatally drown in the United States each year. However, not all drownings are fatal; even when victims do not die, they face significant risks.

Here is what you need to know about drowning and its most common causes:

The Legal Definition of Drowning

People sometimes make the mistake of thinking that somebody who “drowned” is somebody who has “passed away.” However, drowning is not always deadly. In medicine and in law, the term “drowning” is used to describe respiratory impairment caused by submersion in a liquid, most often water. This definition is broad, encompassing both fatal and non-fatal accidents.

Non-fatal drownings are, by definition, survivable, but that does not mean that they cannot have lasting repercussions. Drowning can trigger complications, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Cardiac arrest;
2. Respiratory failure;
3. Bacterial infection;
4. Brain damage; and
5. Mental health conditions.

If a drowning is non-fatal, victims may experience symptoms like fear or intense physical pain. Oftentimes, oxygen deprivation poses a significant risk of long-term complications, including permanent disability. Even if a victim’s injuries are not life-threatening, surviving a drowning accident can induce new fears and serve as a source of potent emotional trauma.

The Most Common Causes of Drowning Accidents

Drowning accidents have a wide range of potential causes.

In general, most drownings take place inside or around the home in bathtubs, residential swimming pools, and hot tubs. However, a significant number of accidents occur in public areas and private facilities. Oftentimes, drownings in public places and on the premises of for-profit businesses involve an element of negligence.

Some of the most common causes of drowning accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Inadequate supervision. Drownings involving children are often preventable if an adult is nearby. According to some studies, inadequate supervision is a leading cause of preventable drowning accidents.
2. Insufficient safety features. Many infant and child drownings are the result of insufficient or defective safety features. Safety features can include guard rails, life jackets, and life preservers.
3. Poor maintenance. Beachfronts, swimming pools, and hot tubs require regular maintenance. In the absence of regular maintenance, problems can quickly accumulate, posing hazards ranging from waterborne bacterial infections to unsafe, slippery surfaces in unexpected places.
4. Alcohol consumption. Alcohol is often implicated as a significant risk factor in drowning accidents involving adult victims, large bodies of water, and recreational boating.
5. Unexpected or changing conditions. Conditions on Onondaga Lake, Oneida Lake, and other large bodies of water can change without warning. Inclement weather, such as high winds or heavy rain, can present an increased risk of drowning, particularly for swimmers and persons operating small boats.

Your family should not have to bear the burden of an accident that was not your fault. If you, or a loved one, have been injured or killed in a drowning accident, you could be entitled to significant compensation money that you could use to eliminate your medical debt, afford higher-quality medical care, and begin rebuilding your life.

Your Potential Damages After A Syracuse Drowning Accident

Lawyers, courts, and insurance companies use the term “damages” to describe compensation for an accident victim’s losses. In New York, damages typically fall into three distinct categories. These include the following:

1. Economic damages. Economic damages compensate verifiable financial losses, such as the cost of medical care or physical rehabilitation. You could also receive economic damages for other economic hardship, such as lost income from work or diminished earning capacity.
2. Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages compensate for subjective forms of loss and hardship, such as emotional pain and suffering, physical pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment.
3. Punitive damages. Punitive damages are not compensatory; they are, instead, a form of punishment. However, punitive damages can only be awarded if specific strict criteria are met. In general, a judge or jury will only award punitive damages if the at-fault party was extraordinarily negligent.

Unlike many other states, New York does not cap or otherwise limit compensation in drowning accident claims. In other words, you could receive as much money as you need to begin reclaiming your independence.

However, you cannot afford to wait too long before contacting an Upstate New York drowning accident lawyer. While New York state has no restriction on damages, its courts still enforce a stringent statute of limitations on all drowning accident lawsuits. If you delay, the statute of limitations may lapse, and once it does, you may lose your right to recovery.

Please do not take chances with your rights. Send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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