Near Drowning Injuries In Florida Boat Accidents
Depending on the circumstances, a boating accident out on the water in Florida can cause a wide range of injuries, from mild scrapes and strains to severe traumatic brain injuries, and more. One type of injury that can be caused in a boating accident is known as near drowning, which can cause substantial harm to an accident victim and require a lifetime of additional care. If your loved one has suffered near drowning injuries in the Delray Beach area, you need an experienced Delray Beach personal injury attorney to fight for the compensation you deserve after an accident. Call or contact Earnhart Law today to schedule a free evaluation of your injury claims.
What is Near Drowning?
Near drowning occurs when a person almost suffocates to death underwater and is the step that occurs just before a fatal lack of oxygen is reached for a drowning victim. When a near drowning happens, the victim’s body is cut off from oxygen for an extended period of time, causing the brain and other major organs in the body to shut down. This type of injury can happen in deep or shallow water and affects accident victims of all ages. A person can suffer from a near drowning for minutes and still be revived, but the damage done internally can be catastrophic.
In boating accidents, near drowning occurs most often when any of the following happens:
- When a victim is thrown overboard,
- When a victim panics in the water,
- When a victim has a seizure, convulsions, or a heart attack in the water,
- When a victim has been consuming alcohol,
- When a victim strikes an object in the water,
- When a victim is unable to swim, or
- When a victim is pinned underneath the vessel underwater.
Damage Caused by Near Drowning
The damage caused by near drowning incidents during boating accidents can be severe. Depending on how long a victim is deprived of oxygen and whether they aspirate water into their lungs, injuries from near drowning can include:
- Pneumonia
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Brain damage and traumatic brain injury
- Chemical and fluid imbalances in the body
- Heart damage
- Heart attack
- Internal organ damage
- Permanent vegetative state, and more.
Given the severity of these injuries, victims of near drowning need to be fully compensated after an accident in order to cover the substantial economic and noneconomic damages sustained while deprived of oxygen. Compensation for accident victims that suffer from near drowning include damages for all present and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of future income and benefits, pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and for the loss of enjoyment of life. Present and future medical expenses include all hospitalization, medications, treatment, operations, medical devices, rehabilitation, and any long-term care. To learn more, call or contact our office today.
Talk to Our Office Now
Do you have a loved one that has suffered a near drowning in a boating accident around the Delray Beach area? If so, the knowledgeable personal injury attorneys at Earnhart Law are here to help. Call or contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Resource:
healthline.com/health/near-drowning
