Near-Drowning And Brain Injuries: Almost Drowning Can Lead To Anoxic Brain Damage

When we think of traumatic brain injuries, we often think of traffic accidents, serious falls, or physical assaults. However, one common cause of brain trauma doesn’t involve a blow to the head at all: near drowning, water accidents, and swimming pool accidents.

When a person is drowning, it only takes four to six minutes for brain damage to occur. Though a person’s life might be saved, many near-drowning victims suffer irreversible brain damage because of their water accident.

Brain damage due to almost drowning is an example of an anoxic brain injury – a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. Other examples of anoxic brain injuries could include suffocation accidents, choking accidents, heart attacks, exposure to poisonous gases, and anesthesia mistakes.

Each year in the United States, almost 4,000 people die in drowning accidents and thousands more suffer from near-drowning brain injuries. The most common causes of drowning are swimming pool accidents, bath tub accidents, ocean accidents, boating accidents, and alcohol-related swimming accidents. In some cases, a near-drowning might take place because a body of water had inadequate security or inadequate lifeguard activity. In other cases, a near-drowning accident might take place after a boat accident or diving accident.

If you or someone you love has suffered brain damage due to a near-drowning accident, and if that accident could have been prevented if not for the negligence or carelessness of someone else, talk to a brain injury attorney today. Anoxic brain injuries are not only absolutely devastating, they often require daily care and ongoing medical expenses. Make certain that the person or entity responsible for the anoxic brain injury in your family has compensated you for these costs.


About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a VA injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases brought by victims of traumatic brain injury and closed head injuries. In fact, in 2000, our firm helped a plaintiff receive what was then the largest verdict ever in a Virginia brain injury case. Then in the year 2012 we won a $21 million brain injury verdict.  We also have a blog in which we discuss only topics related to brain injuries and head wounds. 

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008.Shapiro and Lewis have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2008. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive this professional honor. In addition, our firm was the first in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.
We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News if you or a family member has been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness. While not every case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential consultations. Call us toll-free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can get back to you.