As a leading cause of death for children, drowning kills more children under age 14 than any other cause of unintentional death except car accidents. Although children are at the highest risk of drowning, anyone can be affected.
If you were involved in a drowning accident or lost someone you love in a drowning accident in Kansas City, a Goza & Honnold Kansas City drowning accident attorney may be able to help. The Goza & Honnold trial lawyers are former defense attorneys who help accident victims and their families recover maximum compensation for their losses. With our decades of experience, we know what factors the defense considers, and we know what it takes to counter their approaches effectively.
Injuries Victims Could Suffer in a Kansas City Drowning Accident
Not all drowning victims lose their lives. In fact, there are 8,080 nonfatal drownings per year in the United States (equating to about 22 nonfatal drownings per day), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These nonfatal drownings can lead to long-term health issues. More than 40% of drownings treated in hospitals require further care, leading to costly medical bills. In comparison, just 8% of other unintentional injuries necessitate hospitalization or additional care.
Drowning accidents can cause the body to be cut off from oxygen, resulting in the shutdown of essential body systems. Oxygen deprivation to the brain can begin killing off vital cells within just five minutes. Therefore, if a person is submerged underwater for an extended period, they could suffer:
- Acute respiratory distress
- Brain injuries
- Cardiac arrest
- Fractures
- Head trauma
- Influenza
- Kidney failure
- Lung disease
- Paralysis
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
- Spinal cord injuries
Cell damage caused by drowning can also affect various parts of the brain, which could result in:
- Brain death
- Cognitive disability
- Coma
- Damaged motor skills
- Difficulty concentrating
- Diminished decision-making skills
- Memory loss
- Seizures
The degree of injury individuals suffer is often related to how long they were without oxygen.
Common Causes of Drowning Accidents in Kansas City
There are many factors that can contribute to a drowning accident in Kansas City, but some of the most common causes include:
- Children without adult supervision in or around water
- Drug or alcohol intoxication
- Defective installation of a fence or lack thereof
- Negligent lifeguard supervision
- Lack of lifeguards in a public swimming area
- Overcrowded pool area
- Lack of adequate safety equipment
- Failure to wear a life jacket
The Goza & Honnold drowning accident attorneys can represent you for claims involving incidents including, but not limited to:
- Water park accidents
- Hotel pool accidents
- Theme park drownings
- Swimming pool accidents
- Boating accidents
- Water ski or jet ski accidents
- Summer camp drownings
- Hot tub drownings
To prevent injuries, property owners must uphold a reasonable duty of care and maintenance. In Missouri and Kansas, any negligent property owners who fail to do so could be held accountable for any damages a victim suffers in a drowning accident.
Experienced Drowning Accident Attorneys Representing Victims in Kansas City
Goza & Honnold personal injury lawyers understand that a drowning accident will affect your life in ways that only you will ever completely understand. We have the skills needed to communicate your story to a judge and jury so they understand the profound effect the incident has had on your life.
We are a small firm with big-time credentials and are dedicated to getting drowning accident victims and their family members the results they deserve. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Kansas City drowning accident lawyers, call (913) 451-3433. You may also contact us online by filling out our contact form. We represent personal injury victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay any lawyer fees unless we recover money for you.