Has Your Family Experienced the Devastating Loss of a Loved One Due to a Drowning?
Goldberg & Loren's Portland drowning injury attorneys are here to help you seek justice. Whether you have lost a loved one in a drowning incident or have been supporting a loved one after a drowning-related anoxic brain injury, there are legal actions you can take.
Contact Goldberg & Loren at (971) 339-8080 today to schedule a free consultation, and let us fight for justice on behalf of your loved one. Don't let the negligence of others go unpunished. Together, we can make a difference.
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A 10-year-old child suffered a near-drowning incident at a public swimming pool in Portland due to inadequate lifeguard supervision. The child was submerged for approximately three minutes before rescue, resulting in hypoxic brain injury
A 35-year-old adult suffered a drowning-related injury in a private residential pool during a social gathering in Portland. The victim slipped on a poorly maintained pool deck, fell into the deep end, and was submerged for about two minutes, leading to aspiration pneumonia and temporary respiratory distress
What is an Aquatic Center Drowning?
What exactly is an aquatic center drowning? It refers to the tragic incident when someone loses their life or nearly loses their life due to submersion in water at a public swimming facility.
These incidents can happen in various areas of the aquatic center, including swimming pools, water slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools.
Some Portland aquatic centers include:
- Matt Dishman Community Center
- East Portland Community Center
- Grant Outdoor Pool
- Ida B. Wells Outdoor Pool
- Northeast Community Center
- David Douglas Aquatics Center
- PSU Campus Recreation Center
- Southwest Community Center
- Sellwood Pool
This list is by no means comprehensive. Drowning accidents can happen anywhere and result from a range of factors, such as inadequate supervision, lack of proper safety measures, faulty equipment, or even overcrowding.
In some cases, the drowning may occur due to dangerous conditions that go unnoticed or unaddressed by the aquatic center staff or property owners.
The aftermath of an aquatic center drowning can be overwhelming and traumatic. Those fortunate enough to survive may face severe injuries, including brain damage, spinal cord injuries, or other life-altering conditions that require ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation.
The emotional distress experienced by Portland drowning victims and their loved ones is immeasurable, as they grapple with the loss, pain, and financial burden of medical bills and funeral expenses.
Our Portland drowning injury lawyers can help you recover from the incident financially.
Liability in a Portland Drowning Injury Claim
When pursuing a claim, our Portland personal injury lawyers will investigate the circumstances surrounding the drowning accident, ensuring that all responsible parties are held accountable.
Determining liability in an aquatic center drowning case can be challenging. It may involve assessing the actions or negligence of the property owner, the aquatic center staff, city officials responsible for maintenance and inspections, or even the manufacturer of faulty equipment.
Our goal is to ensure that the injured person or the family of the deceased receives maximum compensation for their losses and damages. This compensation may cover medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
By taking legal action, it is possible to hold negligent lifeguards and property owners accountable and seek the financial compensation necessary to support the recovery process.
Drowning is fast and silent. It can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds. Drowning doesn't always look as one would expect. [1]
Common Causes of Drowning Incidents in Portland, Oregon
Inadequate supervision is one of the leading causes of drownings. Whether it's a lack of qualified lifeguards or distracted staff members, inadequate supervision can result in delayed response times and missed signs of distress.
It only takes a few moments for a drowning incident to occur, and without proper supervision, the consequences can be fatal.
Children ages 1–4 have the highest drowning rates. Most drownings in children 1–4 happen in swimming pools. [2]
Another common cause is the lack of proper safety measures. This can include missing or broken safety equipment, such as life jackets or safety ropes.
Inadequate signage and warnings about hazardous areas or deep water can also contribute to accidents. It is the responsibility of pool owners and operators to ensure that all necessary safety measures are in place to protect patrons.
Faulty or poorly maintained equipment can also play a role in drownings in swimming pools.
Malfunctioning drain systems, broken water slides, or faulty pool equipment can create dangerous conditions that put swimmers at risk. Hotel pools can be a culprit of poor pool equipment maintenance.
Overcrowding is another factor that can contribute to aquatic center drownings. When a pool or water attraction becomes overcrowded, it becomes difficult for lifeguards and staff members to effectively monitor all individuals in the water.
This can lead to delayed response times and a higher likelihood of drowning incidents occurring.
Drowning Survivors Face Long-Term Injuries
One of the most severe injuries that can occur in a drowning incident when someone survives is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). When a person's oxygen supply is cut off for an extended period underwater, it can cause significant damage to the brain.
TBIs can result in cognitive impairments, memory loss, difficulties with coordination and balance, and even permanent disability. The road to recovery from a TBI can be long and challenging, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitative therapy.
Serious head injuries are also common in aquatic center drownings. The impact of hitting a hard surface, such as the pool edge or diving board, can cause skull fractures, concussions, or other head trauma.
These injuries may require surgical intervention and can lead to long-term complications, such as chronic headaches, cognitive deficits, or sensory impairments.
Catastrophic injuries, including spinal cord injuries, are another devastating consequence of aquatic center drownings. When a person is underwater and in distress, their movements may become frantic and uncontrolled. This can result in collisions with pool structures or other swimmers, leading to spinal cord damage.
Near-drowning incidents can also lead to secondary injuries, such as respiratory problems, pneumonia, or infection.
The lack of oxygen can have a profound impact on various organs in the body, including the lungs, heart, and kidneys. In some cases, near-drowning victims may require long-term medical treatment and suffer from ongoing health complications.
Survivors may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and survivor's guilt. Emotional and psychological distress is common in aquatic center drownings, affecting both the victims themselves and their loved ones.
These mental health challenges can significantly impact the individual's quality of life and may require therapy or medication to manage.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than any other cause.
In Oregon, drowning rates are the highest on the West Coast, and well above the national average: Oregon children drown at a 26% higher rate compared with the U.S. overall; for Oregon children ages 5 to 18, that jumps to a 68% higher rate. [3]
Premises Liability Claim for a Portland Drowning Incident
To successfully file a premises liability claim for a drowning or near-drowning in Portland, there are several key elements that must be established.
It must be proven that the property owner had a duty of care towards visitors to ensure their safety. Aquatic centers have a responsibility to maintain their facilities and implement proper safety measures, such as lifeguards or warning signs.
It must be demonstrated that the property owner breached their duty of care. This can be shown through evidence of negligence, such as failing to provide lifeguards or inadequate maintenance of the pool area. If it can be shown that the property owner did not take reasonable steps to prevent the drowning incident, they may be held liable for the damages.
A causal relationship between the property owner's breach of duty and the drowning incident must be shown. This means proving that the lack of appropriate safety measures directly contributed to the accident. This can be achieved through witness testimonies, expert opinions, or surveillance footage.
It is necessary to demonstrate the damages suffered as a result of the aquatic center drowning. This can include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and even wrongful death. It is essential to collect and document all relevant evidence to support the extent of these damages.
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You Need Portland's Best Legal Representation
When pursuing a premises liability claim for a drowning incident, you will need legal representation.
Goldberg & Loren is here to help. As experienced drowning injury lawyers, we understand the devastating impact these incidents can have on victims and their families. We are committed to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their negligence.
Contact our Portland drowning accident lawyers today to schedule a free consultation, and let us help you seek the justice you deserve.
Sources:
[1] Facts & Stats About Drowning - Stop Drowning Now. (n.d.). Stop Drowning Now. https://www.stopdrowningnow.org/drowning-statistics/
[2] Risk Factors for Drowning. (2024, February 20). Drowning Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/risk-factors/index.html
[3] Rideout, N. (2023, June 27). OHSU Doernbecher offers water safety tips to help prevent drowning. OHSU News. https://news.ohsu.edu/2023/06/27/ohsu-doernbecher-offers-water-safety-tips-to-help-prevent-drowning
We Represent Those Affected by Drowning Incidents in the Following Cities and Communities Near Portland, Oregon:
- Beaverton, OR
- Hillsboro, OR
- Vancouver, WA
- Clackamas County, OR
- Clark County, WA
- Columbia County, OR
- Multnomah County, OR
- Skamania County, WA
- Washington County, OR
- Skamania County, WA
- Yamhill County, OR
