A 2-year-old girl nearly drowned after a swimming pool accident in Chula Vista, the afternoon of July 31, 2011. According to a 10News report, the near-drowning incident occurred at a home along Echo Ridge Court in the Eastlake area. The girl was in a home where there was a large gathering. Officials say the adults who were near the pool were not supervising the children in the pool. When the adults in the home realized the child was not in the house, they did a search and found the toddler in the above-ground pool. She was transported to a local hospital. Her condition is not known.

My heart goes out to this child and her family members. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this young victim and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

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." Near-drowning incidents are extremely serious because they can result in catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, when the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off.

Above-Ground Swimming Pools

Based on this news report, it appears that this little girl was left unsupervised at the time. The family apparently told police that they did not think the toddler could climb up the ladder to get to the above-ground swimming pool. According to pool safety inspectors, accidents such as these are quite common because homeowners fail to follow certain safety guidelines. Most city codes require swimming pools to have five-foot fences or barriers. In the absence of barriers, homeowners should have alarms on their doors leading to the pool or consider having permanent automatic pool covers.

Liability Issues

Pool owners can be held liable for accidents that occur on their property. Injured victims or their families can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses and cost of rehabilitation. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families about pursuing their legal rights.

California Swimming Pool Accident Lawyers

Some people think that the laws put in place to force parents to keep their pools safer are not strict enough. Do you feel that parents should be forced to enclose their pools? Makes sense to me Parents shouldn't be forced to do anything The laws in place now are good enough Current Results

Toddler Nearly Drowns in Chula Vista Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Journal

The most common injuries sustained in bicycle accidents are head injuries. This is why we tell our kids everyday to wear a helmet before they get on their bikes and head out -- even if they are "just going down the street." However, I came across an excellent, informative column by Susan Hall in The Californian, which talked about the importance of replacing old bicycle helmets.

Hall says that when it comes to bicycle helmets, it is not only important to make sure that it fits properly, but also ensure that they are not too old or weak to protect the bicyclist. Bicycle helmets may have to be replaced after two years of use, Hall says. That's because over a span of two to three years, sun and air exposure can cause the materials in the helmet to weaken. Factor in moisture from the sweat as well. You can see how an older helmet will not protect as well as a newer one. The helmet would still protect the skull, but not as well as it should.

Protection from Head Injuries

According to SoCalBikeSafety.org, three out of four bicyclists who are killed in accidents die from head injuries -- mostly traumatic brain injuries. If you are able, it is always a good idea to get fitted for a new helmet as you begin your summer adventures. Sure, it is more expensive. But remember, that a properly fitted helmet significantly reduces the chance of a head injury -- by about 85 percent. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI), the average careful bike rider may still crash about every 4,500 miles. Head injuries cause 75 percent of the 700 annual bicycle accident fatalities in the United States.

Replacing your Bicycle Helmet

BHSI suggests that you replace your helmet right away if you crash. That is because impact crushes some of the foam although the damage may not be visible. Always replace the buckle if it cracks or a piece breaks off. Also replace your helmet if the strap is broken or damaged. Remember, your bike helmet is no good if it is not securely strapped on and fits snugly over your head.

The Newport Beach personal injury lawyers of BISNAR | CHASE have represented numerous bicycle accident victims who were injured as a result of someone else's negligence. However, we have often noticed that their injuries may not have been as severe if the victim was properly wearing a good quality bike helmet. Please be safe as you ride your bikes this summer.

What tips do you have to pick out a good bicycle helmet? We would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

Older Bicycle Helmets May Not Protect against Injuries is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Journal

A 4-year-old boy sustained serious injuries in a Los Angeles swimming pool accident after he nearly drowned in backyard pool. According to a news report in the San Bernardino Sun, the accident occurred at a home in the 1200 block of East Alvarado Street in Pomona, the afternoon of January 30, 2010. The family at the residence was trying to resuscitate the child when officers arrived. Officers were able to restore the child's breathing by placing him on his side and forcing the water from his lungs. The toddler was transported to an area hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

My heart goes out to the family of the little boy who suffered injuries in this swimming pool accident. I'm relieved to hear that the boy is in stable condition. This could have been a lot worse. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. He will certainly be in my prayers.

Near-Drowning Incidents Can Cause Serious Injuries

This story goes to show that swimming pool drowning and near-drowning incidents are a threat in California year-round, because of the pleasant weather in this part of the country. It is important for parent and caregivers to be watchful and vigilant at all times when they have children around. Los Angeles County has more than 200 near-drowning incidents a year. And Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties together account for half of all near-drowning incidents in California. Near drowning incidents can also result in serious injuries such as brain injuries because in such incidents, oxygen supply is usually cut off to the brain.

Liability Issues

In this particular case, it is not clear how the child got in the pool. Was the child supervised at the time? Was the child in his own house, visiting someone or under the care of someone? Was there a gate around the pool and if so, was the gate properly secured. If a child drowns or is injured on your property and under your watch, you could be held liable for the injuries or wrongful death. If your child has been injured in a swimming pool accident as a result of someone else's negligence, please consult with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer to find out more information about your legal rights and options.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

Toddler Nearly Drowns in Los Angeles Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Journal

Authorities have identified a girl who died in a Riverside car accident as 17-year-old Lisel J. Wiedemann. This horrific car accident, which occurred the night of November 15, 2009 killed Lisel and injured four others. The Desert Sun reports that all the injured victims were in a Dodge Caliber, which was traveling east on Highway 74 near Palm Desert when the vehicle veered off the roadway, went down an embankment and overturned on to its roof. California Highway Patrol officials say drugs or alcohol were not involved.

Lisel was apparently the rear middle passenger in the Dodge. Other injured victims were: Joseph Nichol, 18, suffered collapsed lungs, a broken back and a brain injury; Raul Gonzalez, 18, sustained facial and back injuries; Lydia Lee Emer, 18, who was driving the crossover vehicle sustained injuries to her face and arm; and a fourth passenger, an unidentified 17-year-old girl, sustained arm and head injuries.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of young Lisel Wiedemann for their untimely loss. I wish all the injured victims the very best for a speedy and full recovery for their injuries. Some of them do have a long road to physical and emotional recovery. Please keep these injured teens in your prayers.

Car Accidents in Riverside

Five deaths and 233 injuries were reported in Palm Desert as a result of car accidents in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, car accidents claimed 279 lives and injured 9,925 in 2007, according to the CHP report.

The question here is why Lydia Emer lost control of the Dodge. Was there malfunction or auto product defect in the Dodge, which caused it to go out of control? I would look into whether there was a dangerous condition on the roadway or if any other vehicles were involved. I'd also be curious to learn whether other vehicle defects such as poor roof strength, played a part in the serious injuries that resulted from this crash.

Did Auto Product Defects Play a Part?

In such cases, victims or their families would be well-advised to seek the counsel of a reputed California personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled auto products liability cases against large auto makers. In any auto product defect case, the vehicle itself is the main piece of evidence. So, it is extremely important to make sure that the vehicle is preserved in its current condition, unaltered, so it can be examined for malfunctions, defects and other evidence.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

Teen Killed in Riverside Car Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Journal