Two toddlers were critically injured in a Los Angeles swimming pool accident that occurred in their own backyard. According to a City News Service report, the near-drowning incident happened on Susan Drive, near Knollwood Golf Course, in Granada Hills, the evening of August 14, 2011. The two children, a boy and girl, belong to a set of triplets, and were being watched by their mother. The mother left briefly to interact with the other triplet, and came back to find the two toddlers were in the pool. She rescued them from the swimming pool. The boy had no pulse and the girl was barely breathing. They have both been listed in critical condition.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of these two children. I wish both the boy and girl a complete and speedy recovery.

Near Drowning Accidents

Near drowning is when the victim survives beyond 24 hours after a submersion episode. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children between the ages of 1 and 4. For every child who dies from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. Tragically, many young near drowning victims suffer brain injuries as a result of a lack of supply of oxygen to the brain.

Pool Safety Tips

In addition to building a pool to code and installing fencing around the pool, there are a number of steps that pool owners can take to help prevent swimming pool accidents. Toys and rafts should be kept away from the pool when not in use. Children may be drawn to them and accidently fall in. To prevent tripping accidents, running by the pool should not be allowed and cracked walkways should be repaired as soon as possible. Property owners would be well advised to install alarms to prevent accidents where children slip out the back door and into the pool area. Sadly, no amount of safety precautions can prevent every drowning accident.

Liability Issues

Remember, if a swimming pool accident occurs on your watch and on your property, you could be held liable for the injuries and damages. If you own a swimming pool property, it would be in your best interests to install safety barriers before the spring and summer months. If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, please contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.

Two Toddlers Critically Injured in Los Angeles Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

A 1-year-old boy was critically injured in a San Diego swimming pool accident while under the supervision of his two uncles. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the serious injury accident occurred at a Cochran Avenue home in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego, the afternoon of June 27, 2011. The two uncles who were watching the boy fell asleep and the boy somehow fell into the swimming pool. He wasn’t breathing when he was rescued from the pool and he remains in critical condition. It is unclear if the two uncles will face charges in connection with this incident.

My thoughts and prayers are with the little boy who has been critically injured in this tragic San Diego swimming pool accident. I sincerely hope the child is able to make a complete recovery from the injuries suffered.

Drowning Statistics

Most fatal drowning and near-drowning accidents in California occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), California led all states in unintentional drowning accidents during the summer of 2010 involving children. Last summer in California there were 27 fatal drowning incidents involving children, and 15 children were involved in non-fatal drowning incidents. Nationwide, during the same year, 350 drowning and near-drowning incidents involving children were reported. Near drowning accidents can lead to catastrophic brain injuries.

What Caused This Swimming Pool Accident?

It appears from the report that the adults in charge of watching the young boy may have failed to supervise him. It is important for anyone watching children near a pool or in a home that has a swimming pool to stay alert at all times. It only takes a moment for a child to drown. Toys should not be kept near or in the pool. Swimming pools should be fenced and have an access gate, which should be locked at all times.

Liability Issues

The family of a child injured or killed in a San Diego swimming pool accident would be well advised to speak with a skilled personal injury attorney regarding their legal options. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, injured victims or their families can seek compensation for medical expenses including cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and care. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will better advise victims and their families about their legal rights and options.

Seriously injured in a San Diego County swimming pool accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a San Diego accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Diego personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

Child Critically Injured in San Diego Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

A 2-year-old girl identified as Evelyn Temple, died from injuries suffered in a swimming pool accident in Ontario the evening of April 18, 2011. According to a news report in The San Bernardino County Sun, the fatal swimming pool accident occurred in the 700 block of West Maple Street in Ontario. The girl was found floating face-down in an in-ground pool. Emergency personnel attempted to revive Evelyn but she was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. An investigation is underway to determine how the accident occurred. Officials say Evelyn's parents were at the home visiting friends when the girl drowned.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of little Evelyn Temple for their devastating and tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drowning in the year 2007 throughout the United States. Fatal drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths for children between the ages of 1 and 14. Near-drowning incidents can result in catastrophic injuries such as brain injury.

Preventing these Tragic Incidents

CDC offers a number of tips to help prevent fatal drowning accidents. Pool owners must provide barriers around their pool areas and young children must be supervised at all times. Pool toys should not be left near a pool where children may be drawn to them. Whenever possible, young swimmers should have a swimming buddy so that they are never alone in the pool. All pool owners should install four-sided fencing, limit the amount of alcohol consumed near the pool, and should learn CPR in case of an emergency.

Liability Issues

Pool owners in California have a number of rules and guidelines they must follow to reduce the likelihood of a fatal swimming accident. Whenever there is a swimming pool accident, investigators will have to determine if the property owner’s negligence contributed to the incident. In such cases, the victim or the victim’s family may be able to pursue financial compensation for the losses they suffered in the accident. With summer just around the corner, it is critical for property owners to take these safety precautions to avoid these tragedies on their property. If your child has been injured or killed in a swimming pool accident as a result of someone else's negligence, please contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.

Lost a family member in a San Bernardino County accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Ontario swimming pool accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Bernardino wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

Child Killed in San Bernardino Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Christian Cruz, 8, died after a swimming pool accident a few days after he was found unresponsive in a backyard pool. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Christian was found the evening of August 18, 2010 in a pool in the 1600 block of Elma Privado in Ontario. His mother and another adult had already begun administering CPR when firefighters arrived at the home. Officials say Christian was in the water only briefly. He was transported to a regional hospital, but died from his injuries about four days later.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Christian Cruz for what they are going through at this time. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to statistics released in May 2010 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), from 2005 to 2007, there was an annual average of 385 pool and spa-related drowning incidents for children younger than 15. About 78 percent of these children were younger than 5. From 2007 to 2009, there were 4,200 incidents involving emergency department-treated drowning and near drowning incidents in the country for children under the age of 15.

Also, about 54 percent of the estimated injuries from 2007 to 2009 and 74 percent of swimming pool deaths involving children under 15 occurred at a residence. Near-drowning incidents can also be extremely serious and result in catastrophic brain injuries.

Safety and Liability Issues

This swimming pool accident is a sad reminder to all of us that it is not just young children such as infants or toddlers who are at risk in the pool, but also older children. Irrespective of your child's age or his or her proficiency as a swimmer, it is critical for parents to supervise their children in a pool. As this tragic incident shows, it doesn't take too long for a child to slip under the water and suffer a silent death. It could happen within seconds.

If a visiting child is injured or killed in your backyard swimming pool, you could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. If you are having a pool party, insist that the parents stay to supervise their children. Otherwise, if you are able to, hire a certified lifeguard who will keep a watch during the party. If your child has been injured in a swimming pool accident as a result of someone else's negligence, please contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer to get more information about your legal rights and options.

Do you supervise your children at all times when they are in the swimming pool?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

8-year-old Boy Dies in Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

There were reports of two swimming pool accidents in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley on November 11, 2009, according to a CBS news report. The accidents resulted in the near-drowning of two young children. The first incident occurred around noon in a North Hills home where a 14-month-old boy fell into a swimming pool. The boy was taken out of the water and transported to a hospital where he is said to be recovering. Around 12:30 the same day a 5-year-old boy was out of sight for no more than two minutes before his mother found him floating in the backyard pool. He was transported to a local hospital in serious condition.

My heart goes out to the families of both these young boys. I hope and pray that both children recover quickly and completely from their injuries. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

Southern California, especially, is notorious for drowning and near-drowning incidents obviously because of the abundance of pools and good weather. Los Angeles County has more than 200 near-drowning incidents a year. And Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties together account for half of all near-drowning incidents in California.

In both these cases, it is extremely fortunate that the children did not sustain fatal injuries. It really doesn't take that long for a child who is submerged in water to sustain a traumatic brain injury or die because the oxygen supply is cut off to the child's brain. The cost of treating these brain injuries is extremely high and could run into millions of dollars.

Liability Issues in Drowning or Near-Drowning Accidents

Although in these cases, the children fell into their own backyard pools, the Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at BISNAR | CHASE handle at least a few cases every summer where a child is seriously injured or killed as a result of a swimming pool accident in someone else's home or at a day camp.

Incidents such as these prove that swimming pool accidents in Southern California are not seasonal. Drowning incidents here really don't take a holiday. Parents and caregivers should be watchful at all times. If a child drowns under your watch or in your home, you could be held liable for the injuries. If you have a swimming pool in your backyard, please make sure it is fenced and locked. And make sure that the locks are in working condition. Always supervise children and never let them out of your sight.

Two Los Angeles Swimming Pool Accidents Cause Injuries is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Thousands of public pools in California and the rest of the country remain unsafe more than six months after new federal pool rules took effect, according to an article in The Orange County Register. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires every public pool in the country to install anti-entrapment drain covers. If the pool has only one drain, an automatic pump shut-off system or any suction limiting release system must be installed. The goal of these new rules is to reduce the risk of swimming pool accidents involving drowning and entrapment.

According to a letter sent out by Danielle Kazmier, executive director of the Pool Safety Council, to Attorney General Jerry Brown, public pools in California are far from being compliant. Even major cities in California have reportedly dropped the ball here, failing to install the safety devices, while a number of other large cities including Washington D.C., New Orleans and Phoenix have already brought their public pools to compliance before summer and the peak swimming season.

In fact, swimming pools owned by homeowners associations, apartment complexes, hotels, gyms, schools, cities, water parks and aquatic centers--numbering to about 6,000 in Orange County alone--still do not comply with these new federal standards. In Los Angeles County, only about 1,600 out of 16,000 public pools are in compliance. Between 1999 and 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says 74 people were trapped in pool and spa drains resulting in nine deaths. Just last week in Florida, a 5-year-old boy nearly drowned after he got his arm stuck in a pool drain pipe.

It is appalling that these entities are yet to take action given that in most cases, compliance with these new rules is going to cost them less than $200. I think the price of saving one life or even preventing a brain injury that often results from near-drowning is worth a lot more.

If a swimming pool accident--fatal or non-fatal--occurs as a result of such non-compliance, victims will be able to seek damages for injuries against the entity that is running the pool facility. It could be your homeowners association, a hotel, club or resort. Not complying with a federal standard or requirement that is meant to save lives, in my opinion, amounts to negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured in a California swimming pool accident, please consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer who will hold the negligent parties accountable and make sure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and/or loss.

Swimming Pool Safety: Thousands of California Public Pools Still Unsafe is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Jesse Munoz, an 8-year-old boy, died in a swimming pool accident in a Morro Bay's Best Western El Rancho Hotel the evening of June 27, 2009, according to a KCOY news report. Jesse was apparently swimming in the pool and was found not breathing. He was rushed to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police believe that the death was accidental.

My heart goes out to the family of young Jesse Munoz. I offer my deepest sympathies to them during this difficult time. Please keep them in your prayers.

In the state of California, swimming pool accidents and drowning is the leading cause of death among children age 14 and under, according to statistics provided by the Orange County Fire Authority. In Southern California, especially, the number of swimming pool accidents is high throughout the year because of year-round good weather. The number of drowning incidents and near-drowning incidents, however, peaks during the summer.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) a child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone. Another important fact presented by the Drowning Prevention Foundation is that 19 percent of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified lifeguards present. Older children are definitely not immune to these swimming pool accidents. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under five and adolescents/young adults between ages of 15 and 24 have the highest drowning rates. Also for every child who drowns, four are hospitalized for near-drowning. An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized because of near-drowning each year in the United States, of which 15 percent die in the hospital and about 20 percent suffer severe permanent brain damage.

It is important to find out how and why this Morro Bay hotel swimming pool accident occurred. Was the child, Jesse Munoz, supervised at the time? Was there a certified lifeguard present? Was Jesse entrusted to the care of someone? Was he part of a camp or daycare program? Who was he there with? If he was entrusted to someone's care at the time of the incident, then that person or entity could be held liable for the accident and resulting fatal injuries. Experienced California personal injury lawyers will be able to determine whether there was negligence involved in this incident and who should be held accountable.

This tragic fatal drowning is yet another reminder for us to constantly supervise our children when they are in the water. Even a moment's inattention could result in irreparable tragedy. Please stay safe and keep your children safe this summer.

San Luis Obispo County Fatal Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal