brain injuries

Sophia Pham-Chang, 2, of Diamond Bar was killed in an Orange County swimming pool accident after she was found unresponsive in the bottom of the pool. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the swimming pool accident occurred on South Heath Terrace in Anaheim, the evening of June 26, 2011. Adults and children were all around the pool area but no one saw the toddler fall into the pool. The family administered CPR and emergency crews brought her to a nearby hospital but she succumbed to her injuries that night. Officials say the pool floor was colored black, which may have prevented the adults from spotting the child in the water sooner. An investigation is ongoing.

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A 3-year-old boy suffered injuries in swimming pool accident the afternoon of March 23, 2011. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the near-drowning incident occurred in a backyard pool in the 48800 block of Legacy Drive in La Quinta. The child was breathing and conscious when taken to the hospital. Officials are looking into what caused this near-drowning incident.

It is indeed fortunate that this did not turn into a fatal incident. My thoughts and prayers are with this little boy. I sincerely hope he makes a quick and complete recovery.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drowning incidents in the United States. The report also states that fatal drowning is the "second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years." Nonfatal drowning incidents or near-drowning can cause brain injuries and brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning. Read the rest »

Paul Sniffen, a 6-year-old boy, died in a swimming pool accident during a daycare outing. According to a Bay City News report, the drowning occurred the afternoon of July 26, 2010 at 3979 Mabel Avenue in Castro Valley. Lifeguards tried resuscitating Paul, but were unsuccessful. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Read the rest »

The California personal injury law firm of BISNAR | CHASE was featured in Newsweek Magazine's special "Interview Issue" under "The Best of Los Angeles Law" section. The Newsweek article clearly captures what this law firm stands for, the high standards we aspire to achieve each and every day our attorneys and staff members show up to work. The article talks about our most significant case, our greatest legal achievement and the innovative things we are doing to help consumers and personal injury victims. Read the rest »

A 4-year-old boy was hospitalized the evening of June 17, 2009 after a swimming pool accident at a Palm Springs resort and spa, The Desert Sun reports. Joe Cahalan, a hotel guest from Orange County, apparently saved the child's life and carried him from the swimming pool at the Spa Resort Casino, after he spotted the boy underneath the water. Cahalan told the paper that the boy was at least a foot underwater and that he may have been there for 30 or 60 seconds. The child was conscious when firefighters arrived and he was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

It's not known where the child's parents were. Apparently, the boy was with two other children, including a teenager. This is the second time in a month that a child has nearly drowned in a local hotel. On May 15, 2009, a girl was resuscitated after nearly drowning at Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage. Read the rest »

Bisnar | Chase recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of Julie Farris, a 21-year-old graphic designer, who suffered severe brain injuries after she was hit by a trolley car on Foothill Boulevard on February 19, 2008, while riding her bicycle to Azusa Pacific University. This personal injury accident may not have occurred if an area of Foothill Boulevard near Azusa Pacific University's campus were better constructed. Farris underwent two brain surgeries, a seven-month hospital stay and a two-month coma. She also suffered damage to her nervous system and what most certainly is permanent brain damage. Our lawsuit names both the city of Azusa and the university in the lawsuit. We believe that both these parties are liable for Farris' trolley-bicycle accident and resulting personal injuries.

But Azusa city officials blame our client for the bicycle accident. They told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that they believe the conditions on the street were safe and adequate. They call the accident "tragic and unfortunate," but state that it happened because Farris was "operating her bicycle unsafely." Farris was riding on the opposite side of the street toward oncoming traffic. But as our Senior Partner Brian Chase points out, Farris was forced to do that because of overcrowded pedestrian traffic and lack of sidewalk. By poorly designing that roadway, the city created a dangerous condition there.

Farris was caught between the cars and an Azusa Pacific University trolley and suffered massive personal injuries. We also believe that the university trolley driver was inattentive and Azusa Pacific owed a special duty to its students to provide them with a reasonably safe method to travel between the east and west campuses. In just a year and three months, our client is looking at more than $1 million in medical bills. We are also seeking future potential wages and compensation for emotional damage on Farris' behalf.

California’s Government Code section 835 provides that a public entity or governmental agency is liable for damages to an injured person because of a condition of public property when the injured person proves that:

The city and the university should have had better safety measures in place for pedestrians and bicyclists in that area. The street and campus design lacks crosswalks, bike paths, traffic signals and parking, causing a dangerous roadway condition. This was an unfortunate bicycle accident waiting to happen. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the issue of this dangerous roadway has come before the city and university officials in earlier incidents.

A 2-year-old girl has been hospitalized in critical condition after she was personally injured in a Riverside swimming pool accident, CBS News reports. The toddler had nearly drowned in a backyard pool in the 11500 block of Valle Lindo the afternoon of May 3, 2009. Riverside County firefighters responded to the incident and took the girl by ambulance to an area hospital. The young victim's name was not released and there are no updates on her condition.

It is extremely fortunate that this little girl has survived this swimming pool accident at least as far as we know. Young children in near-drowning incidents can be left with catastrophic brain injuries because very often, in these cases, oxygen supply to the brain can get cut off. The cost of treating these brain injuries can be extremely high and could run into millions of dollars. I hope and pray that this little girl has a speedy and complete recovery.

Southern California has the highest number of swimming pool accidents in California. Los Angeles County has more than 200 near-drowning incidents on an average each year. Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties alone account for nearly half of all near-drowning incidents in California. Summer is almost here and almost every summer, the Bisnar | Chase law firm represents a family whose loved one drowned or almost drowned because of a homeowner's negligence. Southern California swimming pool accidents and near-drowning incidents can happen at any time. Almost always it happens quietly without warning and without any one noticing, during pool parties or family get-togethers.

In this particular incident, it's not really clear where the near-drowning occurred. Was the toddler in her own backyard? Was she placed under someone's care? Was she being supervised? If a child is placed in the care of a friend, an acquaintance, a babysitter or a neighbor and is involved in a swimming pool accident on their watch, then that person could be held liable for the personal injuries caused. If you believe your child was injured in a California swimming pool accident, please contact reputed California swimming pool accident attorneys, who can give you advice and information about how to pursue your legal rights.

Also, please be safe around the water as we are nearing the summer season. If you own a backyard pool, please be sure to install a gate around the pool and make sure it is locked at all times. Have a safe and enjoyable summer!