$3.3 Million Settlement in Child’s Drowning

A two-year old boy was attending a family picnic when he drowned in a neighbor’s in-ground swimming pool.  The neighbors failed to enclose their in-ground swimming pool after their existing fence was removed.  The employees of the property owners’ business removed portions of an existing chain-linked fence and failed to erect a safety fence or barrier to obstruct access to the swimming pool. The family brought a negligence and wrongful death action against both the property owners and their business.

According to the Center of Disease Control, children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates. In 2009, among children 1 to 4 years old who died from an unintentional injury, more than 30% died from drowning.  Among children ages 1 to 4, most drownings occur in home swimming pools.  Drowning is responsible for more deaths among children 1-4 than any other cause except congenital anomalies (birth defects).  Among those 1-14, fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death behind motor vehicle crashes.

Approximately 5,000 more children have experienced near-drowning emergencies. Many of these children suffer permanent neurological disabilities.

Proving someone’s negligence is often difficult and sometimes impossible. Early investigation is essential in handling these cases. Our experience, knowledge of the law, resources coupled with our investigative skills, gives Trimble & Armano the competitive edge you need on your side.