City Gym Pool and Golden West Aquatics Center in Huntington Beach, along with other public pools throughout the state, make California’s aquatic centers popular destinations for locals. Tragically, these same spaces can become the site of preventable drownings.

Understanding drowning accidents in California is a key step for anyone seeking compensation for an injury o muerte por negligencia at a private or public pool.

Common Causes of Drownings in California

Youths and children are particularly at risk of drowning, with 68% of incidents involving boys, and two-thirds of cases occurring between May and August. Nationally, drowning is the causa principal of preventable death for children ages 1 through 4. At least 51 California children ages 0 to 5 died from drowning in 2024, including 28 pool-related drowning deaths, according to California state officials.

Many drowning incidents occur due to inadequate supervision, especially when young children have access to pools or spas. Property owners who fail to install safety barriers, self-latching gates, or functioning pool alarms can contribute to drowning incidents.

Other incidents can involve negligence on the part of lifeguards who fail to recognize swimmers in distress. Boat operators could be at fault for their actions. Hotels and apartment complexes that fail to provide adequate safety measures can be found to be at fault for drowning incidents. Establishing fault requires a thorough analysis of the evidence and an understanding of personal injury and wrongful death laws.

Establishing Liability After a Drowning Accident

Tragic and preventable drowning incidents can lead to injuries and deaths. Before someone can pursue compensation through an injury claim or wrongful death action, they would need to establish fault and identify the negligent party or parties.

Liability may extend to property owners, homeowners’ associations, hotels, apartment complexes, water parks, public entities, schools, summer camps, boating operators, and other individuals. Evidence plays a critical role in establishing fault. Common types of documentation that can support an injury or wrongful death claim include:

  • Incident reports
  • Imágenes de vigilancia
  • Declaraciones de los testigos
  • Maintenance records
  • Inspection reports
  • Lifeguard logs
  • Fotografías del lugar de los hechos

Why You Should Hire a Drowning Accident Lawyer

California drowning accident cases can be complex, and state drowning accident laws require claimants and plaintiffs to present evidence to back their accusations. Whether you were injured at a pool or are preparing to pursue compensation for a wrongful death in your family, you have the right to hire a drowning accident lawyer.

An experienced drowning accident attorney brings years of experience managing California drowning accident cases and can help you gather the right types of evidence before pursuing fair compensation. Legal representation can play a critical role in protecting your eligibility for a fair settlement, which could address both the economic and non-economic losses you suffered.

When you partner with the skilled litigators at Easton & Easton, you gain representation from a family-owned law firm that has secured more than $2 billion for clients through trial-ready representation.*

Client Reviews and Past Case Outcomes

The trust our clients place in Easton & Easton is reflected in the firm’s 4.8-star average rating. Here are a few testimonials from people who turned to the firm for help after an injury.**

“Hace poco contraté a Easton & Easton para que se encargaran de mi reclamo por un accidente automovilístico, y el abogado William Seidlitz superó todas mis expectativas. Desde la primera reunión, se hizo cargo de la situación y me mantuvo informado durante todo el proceso. Me explicó todas mis opciones en un lenguaje sencillo, respondió rápidamente a cada llamada y mensaje, y negoció con firmeza para asegurarse de que recibiera una indemnización justa por mis lesiones y pérdidas”. — Troy M.

“Easton y Easton aceptaron mi caso de resbalón y caída cuando nadie más quería hacerlo. Su experiencia en litigios es realmente insuperable. El abogado Alexandro y sus asistentes, Jessica y Lupe, me han dado mucha tranquilidad desde el principio”. — Jenny L.

“Mi esposo y yo tuvimos una experiencia maravillosa con Easton & Easton después de sufrir lesiones en un accidente automovilístico. Su equipo se mostró comprensivo y profesional, y nos mantuvo informados durante todo el proceso. Realmente nos atendieron muy bien e hicieron que una situación difícil fuera mucho menos estresante. Recomendamos encarecidamente a Easton & Easton a cualquiera que busque un abogado especializado en lesiones personales que realmente se preocupe por sus clientes”. — Amanda D.

Easton & Easton has recovered more than $2 billion for injury victims and their families. A continuación se presentan algunos ejemplos de acuerdos y sentencias anteriores obtained by the firm.*

  • $13,000,000: A sexual abuse claim was raised against a religious institution more than 40 years after the abuse occurred.
  • $1,300,000: A drunk driver evaded police and caused a serious accident.
  • $450,000: A motorcycle crash was caused by spilled onions on the freeway despite an adverse police report.

Preguntas frecuentes

Q: Who Can Be Held Liable for a Drowning Accident in California?

A: Liability after a drowning accident can extend to one or more individuals, depending on the outcome of the investigation. Often, the property owner bears responsibility for injuries or deaths in their home or business. Swimming pool operators, hotels, apartment complexes, and other parties may be held responsible for a preventable injury. In some cases, multiple parties may share liability, or a parent company that hired the negligent party may be at fault.

Q: Is a Lifeguard Liable if Someone Drowns?

A: A lifeguard can be held liable if they fail to exercise reasonable care while performing their duties. The actions of the victim are also considered. If the individual who drowned was acting recklessly at the time of the incident, that could reduce the property owner’s or lifeguard’s liability. These cases are complex, and it is often necessary to recreate the moments leading to the drowning to properly identify the at-fault party.

Q: Can a Property Owner Be Held Liable for a Drowning Accident?

A: A property owner can be held liable for a drowning accident. Even if that individual hired lifeguards or other employees, it is often the property or business owner who is ultimately liable for any harm that happens on their property or at their place of business. Before someone can pursue compensation from a property owner, they would need to establish fault by gathering the right types of evidence.

Q: Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Drowning in California?

A: Under California law, a wrongful death claim is typically filed by eligible surviving family members. This could include a spouse, domestic partner, children, or other individuals authorized under state law. If a fatal drowning resulted from another party’s negligence, an attorney can explain who has standing to file a claim. Legal representation can play a crucial role in guiding a wrongful death claim to a favorable conclusion.

Q: Do Pool Drownings Always Lead to a Wrongful Death Claim?

A: Not every drowning provides legal grounds for an injury or wrongful death claim. Some victims survive their drowning when life-saving interventions are administered soon enough. Other cases lead to fatal drownings. As with any injury or wrongful death claim, compensation is possible when the drowning results from one or more parties’ negligence. The burden of proof falls on the claimant or plaintiff.

Protect Your Family With an Award-Winning California Injury Law Firm

A drowning accident can leave families facing overwhelming emotional, financial, and legal challenges. Whether the incident occurred at a private residence, public swimming pool, or another property, determining liability often requires a thorough investigation. At Easton & Easton, our experienced trial lawyers know how to identify negligent parties and build strong claims supported by compelling evidence.

Our family-owned firm has recovered more than $2 billion for injured clients through skilled negotiation and strategic litigation. If you lost a loved one or suffered injuries in a drowning accident caused by another party’s negligence, póngase en contacto con Easton & Easton hoy mismo para programar su consulta inicial.

*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Results depend on the facts of each case.

**Los testimonios de los clientes reflejan experiencias individuales y no garantizan un resultado similar.