Drowning Accidents

Drowning Accidents and Negligence Claims

Sadly, fatal drowning accidents are fairly common in the Los Angeles area, especially in summer. Not every swimming pool accident entitles the family to a death claim, or an injured child to a personal injury settlement. However, if your child drowned or was injured in a pool, you deserve to know exactly what happened.

If you would like an attorney from Michels & Watkins, our personal injury firm, to evaluate your case, please contact our LA office to arrange a free consultation. If you have a claim for negligence, and hire us to represent you, our lawyers will provide the thorough legal representation necessary to recover maximum compensation for your loss.

It is the responsibility of every member of the community to take extra precautions to prevent child injuries as well as foreseeable injuries to adults. Preventable drowning accidents result from a wide variety of negligent actions:

• Negligence on the part of the owner of a swimming pool
• Manufacturing or design defects of spas and therapeutic hot tubs
• Defective installation of a fence or gate
• Negligent supervision by a school swimming teacher, a physical therapist, or a lifeguard
• Lack of lifeguard in a motel swimming pool
• Inadequate training or supervision of lifeguards at a public beach or pool

Verdicts and Settlements: Our client had nearly drowned and was in a coma when his parents called us. He later died. Our attorneys investigated and found that the teacher in a learn-to-swim class allowed too many children in the pool and was inattentive, not noticing when our client sank to the bottom. At trial the school district used as a defense the fact that the child was in special education and the family had a modest income. The jury awarded the family the highest child death verdict in the history of California at that time—$4.25 million.

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Did your child die in a drowning accident? Contact our LA office and arrange a free consultation. At Michels & Watkins lawyers hold those responsible for negligence accountable. Our Los Angeles firm serves clients throughout California and surrounding states. Our staff and the lawyers provide far more than legal services, giving our clients the support they need to survive following tragic swimming pool accidents and accidental drowning.