Dry drowning is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that can develop in young children after a near-drowning event. Also known as “secondary-drowning,” the condition develops when fluid builds up around the lungs or heart after a child inhales water through the mouth or nostrils.
Fluid around the lungs can cause irritation to the point where the organs spasm, making it difficult for the child to breath. Common symptoms of secondary drowning or near drowning include:
Symptoms can take 24 to 48-hours to develop, leaving parents puzzled as to what caused the illness to occur. Medical professionals recommend speaking to a physician immediately if a child exhibits any of these symptoms after a near drowning event.
Victims can experience long term or even permanent effects of a near drowning event, including those associated with dry drowning. Following a drowning or near drowning event, parents often wonder how such a tragedy can occur.
Often times, children suffer near drowning injuries due to pool owner negligence. Sadly, pool operators and their agents sometimes do not live up to their legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable injuries.
Near drowning events can occur due to:
Under the law, drowning victims and their families may be able to hold pool operators and owners responsible if the facility failed to put in place proper safety protocols to prevent or respond to foreseeable accidents. While every case is different and has its own set of unique circumstances, an experienced attorney can help family members investigate the cause of the accident and determine if the facility may be liable.
Depending on the location of the accident, different entities may be held responsible for tragic drowning and near drowning events. Those include:
If your loved one experienced a catastrophic drowning or near drowning event, contact The Cochran Firm, D.C. to discuss the details of your case. Our Washington DC drowning lawyers serve clients throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
There is no cost or obligation to contacting our office and we never collect any legal fees unless we successfully resolve your case. Fill out an online contact form or cal 1-800-THE FIRM (843-3476) to speak to someone from our office. All information is confidential and kept in-house.