lifeguard news

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Jurors recommend $2.6M payout for woman run over by lifeguard in Daytona Beach Shores

Posted: 5:19 p.m. Friday, June 27, 2014

Jurors recommend $2.6M payout for woman run over by lifeguard in Daytona Beach Shores

http://www.wftv.com/videos/news/video-jurors-recommend-26m-for-woman-run-over-by/vCgdtt/

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —

A jury awarded woman who was run over by a Beach Patrol truck more than $2 million for the accident that left half of her face paralyzed.

Erin Joynt, 36, said she suffered life-long injuries when she was hit while sunbathing in Daytona Beach Shores nearly three years ago.

Late Thursday afternoon, following more than three hours of deliberation, a Volusia County jury recommended awarding Joynt $2.6 million in damages, including $2 million for pain and suffering.

State law says a payout the size of the one recommended in Joynt's case has to be approved by the Florida Legislature.

Joynt was run over while sunbathing in 2011. Her children and husband were nearby when the accident happened.

"(We're) very happy for the verdict. We thank the jury for their service," said John Phillips, who represented Joynt in the suit.

Phillips said there's still work to do.

A Florida statute protects the state, its agencies and subdivisions from liability of a claim exceeding $200,000. The law spells out the next step for a claim or judgment exceeding that amount. That involves reporting the ruling to the Legislature.

That means the decision on payout will be made in Tallahassee.

"I think some of the evidence wasn't there to support that level of a verdict but how do you decide what to pay someone for pain and suffering?" said Volusia County Attorney Nancy Jones.

In court, Jones pointed out that Joynt had pre-existing medical conditions.

The accident paralyzed the left side of Joynt's face. She said she also suffers from hearing loss, loss of vision and aches and pains that have changed her lifestyle.

“We are still an active family, but Chris (Joynt’s husband) takes on the majority of the running around,” Joynt said. “It wears me out more now

The law says $200,000 is the maximum amount per claim, and it includes all money paid related to the incident. Joynt's family members were already paid out by Volusia County earlier this year. That settlement included $134,000 for her husband and $15,000 each for her two children.

"Hero" Lifeguard Jumps From Pier Into Pounding Surf to Save Swimmer

A swimmer in distress was rescued from heavy surf that slammed the Orange County coastal community of Seal Beach and flooded beachfront homes

By Jonathan Lloyd and Annette Arreola

Thursday, Aug 28, 2014 • Updated at 2:28 AM PDT

A lifeguard jumped from a pier Wednesday morning into high surf to rescue a swimmer who was caught in the water off an Orange County beach community that was slammed overnight by a storm surge generated by Hurricane Marie.

The lifeguard jumped from the middle of a pier off Seal Beach and swam through pounding surf to reach the swimmer, identified as a man in his 60s, according to police. The lifeguard responded after he was notified by a surfer that the man was in distress.

"He jumped off the pier and very heroically saved the individual," said Seal Beach Police Chief Joseph Stilinovich, who estimated the lifeguard covered "several hundred yards" to reach the swimmer. "I want to emphasize, that lifeguard is a hero,"

Drowning Accidents legal support in pursuing justice

Negligent Lifeguards

Drowning Accident Attorney in Texas

source:

Whether your child is at a city pool or the beach, lifeguards are trusted to protect the safety of our children when they are near or in water. In many cases, lifeguards are highly trained professionals. In other less fortunate cases, a child has been lost due to a negligent and careless lifeguard. It is extremely important that you contact a Texas drowning accident lawyer from the firm immediately if your child has been injured or was the victim of a drowning in a water accident due to a negligent lifeguard. You should not wait to contact an attorney as the evidence involved in the case may become more difficult to utilize. The medical bills that may be accumulated after a pool or beach accident may be extremely large. It is important to ensure you are doing everything you can to help your child recover by speaking with an attorney.

Negligent Lifeguards and Pool Accidents

If a lifeguard is distracted or not doing their job and a drowning occurs under their watch, this could be deemed to be negligence under law. When their duty is neglected, tragedy can ensue. When a child in distress is missed, it can result in the death or serious injury of the child. It is sometimes important to gather witness testimonies that can support the fact that the lifeguard was negligent in their duty to protect swimmers from harm, whether in a hotel or motel pool, public pool, water park or other swimming or water environment.
Our firm has assisted many clients with pool accident cases. Jesse E. Guerra Jr. is extremely passionate about making public pools safer for children. Our firm handles more pool cases in Texas every year than any other firm. If your firm is taken on you not only will greatly improve our chances of receiving the compensation you are due, you may very well save the lives of other children by changing conditions at public pools.
Contact a Texas pool accident attorney today.

No one can train certified lifeguard

There is lot of organization argued that no one can train certified lifeguard but expect by certified lifeguard instructor or organization. But in my point of view those arguments can bring down easily hence national and international level of lifeguard training, certification only provides a sound of foundation for lifeguards. It’s and just that beginning its up to the aquatic manager or lifeguard supervisor to take that newly certified lifeguards and help them to develop into highly skilled profession rescuer- by Palitha Ariyarathna