Personal Injury Risks at The Beach This Summer
The Alabama Gulf Coast boasts of sunshine, culture, history, and untouched natural beauty. Visitors find miles of white sand beaches, which are among the best beaches in the world and a hidden gem in the US.
But, at times, marine conditions or weather can take a sharp turn and convert a delightful day into a dangerous situation. There are many hazardous conditions at the Alabama Gulf Coast beaches that can put people at risk.
Potential Dangers of Alabama Gulf Coast Waters
Visiting tourists and locals often don’t realize the perils posed by the easily accessible waters of the beach. Waves and tides can pull swimmers out or abruptly overtake someone at the beach.
If an individual becomes trapped underwater but is rescued before drowning, the near-death experience could cause devastating, permanent injuries, such as brain trauma. A head injury could cause memory issues and learning disabilities. In circumstances where these injuries could have been avoided if someone had only exercised reasonable care, it could be possible to hold that party liable.
Beach accident and drowning lawyers could help you establish whether there was a violation of the duty of care and provide you a strong legal representation for an injury claim.
Beach Drowning Accidents
In the US, drowning is the fifth leading reason for unintentional death. During the hot summer months, swimming pools and beaches rapidly become the primary focal point of entertainment and fun. In order to cool down and beat the heat, residents enjoy swimming or relaxing around the beach.
But a relaxing day at the beach can quickly turn into a nightmare, as a beach accident can lead to serious bodily injuries and even accidental drowning. Serious brain damage results even from non-fatal drowning injuries, and such injuries may cause the victim to be in a permanent vegetative state or have severe cognitive issues.
Drowning and near-drowning accidents on the beach occur at an alarming rate. If you or someone you love, drowned or nearly drowned due to another’s negligence, you are entitled to claim compensatory damages for the injuries that you endured.
Boat Tours and Recreational Boating
A boat tour off the coast can be a fun outing for the family, but it might pose significant, hidden dangers, particularly if the operator is negligent. Similarly, kayak, jet ski, and pontoon boats are usually a sensational way to spend a sunny afternoon. However, another individual’s carelessness could put you in harm’s way. Inattention, inexperience, and impaired operations are just a few reasons that can engineer a dangerous boating environment.
Surfing Accidents and Injuries
In surfers, spine injuries are very common, especially injuries in the lumbar region or the lower back. This occurs due to the arched or extended position when paddling on board. This leads to stiffness and overuse of various muscles around the spine. Moreover, the repetitive rotation in one direction leads to more muscle imbalance and soreness.
Also, knee injuries are very common, especially to the inside of the knee or the ‘medial’ aspect. The most commonly injured structures are the MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) and the medial meniscus. Knee injuries typically occur due to compression from the wave or having one leg slip off-board and one leg remain on the surfboard.
In addition, ankle injuries occur commonly as surfers perform aerial maneuvers and land awkwardly. High ankle (‘syndesmosis’) sprains, where the foot is forced upward toward the shin, are occurring more commonly as well.
Personal Risk versus Premises Liability on the Beach
Some activities have an inherent risk that a participant accepts while performing that activity. For example, if the beach volleyball is appropriately prepared, i.e., no rocks or other obstacles, you are assuming the risk for playing beach volleyball, and thus, you assumed the risks related to the game voluntarily. The public entity that owns the beach, such as a city or state park, is not accountable. For further information, you should consult a skilled slip and fall lawyer.
But falling due to stepping into a pothole while holding your cooler? That is a completely different situation. The public entity that owns the beach is responsible for maintaining its parking lots and your injury occurred due to reckless management. Your next step would be filing an injury report with the beach office and then consulting an experienced personal injury attorney.
When it comes to swimming injuries and fatalities, if a beach is properly posted “Swim at Your Own Risk,” then any injuries or deaths are a consequence of the risk assumed by the swimmer. But if the lifeguard on duty was inattentive to the swimmers in the water and an injury or death occurs, that is deemed an act of negligence. The public entity that owns the beach can be sued by a qualified wrongful death lawyer.
Hire a Seasoned Alabama Beach Accident Attorney Today
Beach accident victims are typically left with many emotional and physical scars. At this challenging time, it is vital to work with a competent and knowledgeable team of legal professionals. Remember, each beach injury case is different, and liability must be meticulously determined.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a beach accident due to the recklessness of another party, contact the personal injury attorneys at the Smith Law Firm today to schedule a complimentary consultation. Call today at (334) 702-1744.
