Maison Law can help you if you’ve been injured in a drowning or near-drowning accident in Manhattan Beach. There’s no shortage of water sources here, but drownings and near-drownings don’t always just happen on the beach. They can happen anywhere there’s water and unsafe conditions. Our team can help you and your family through what comes after. Set up a free consultation today.
Why a Lawyer Makes Sense After a Drowning or Near-Drowning
No matter how good of a swimmer you are, or how experienced you are around the water, drowning or near-drowning is always a threat under the right circumstances. And when something like that happens, legal options are the last thing on your mind.
But soon after, there’s going to be a lot of questions and real problems you and your family are left with—usually because somebody didn’t do what they were supposed to do around the water. That’s what brings legal options to the forefront, and that’s also why it makes sense to talk to our team. We can help you by:
- Looking closely at what happened and who might be responsible
- Pulling together your medical records, accident reports, inspection records, and other evidence
- Talking to bystanders or others who have information
- Handling the back-and-forth with the insurance company so you don’t have to deal with the pressure yourself
When there’s something as traumatic as a drowning or near-drowning, it can feel overwhelming. And while it might seem like a random accident initially, that starts to change when you start looking at the details.
Where Do Drowning Accidents Happen in Manhattan Beach?
It shouldn’t be all that surprising that drowning and near-drowning accidents happen in a place like Manhattan Beach. But again, what changes the equation is in the details. That makes where it actually happened pretty important, and most of the time, these kinds of accidents happen at:
- Manhattan Beach and nearby beaches, where strong surf, changing water conditions, or a lack of warnings can lead to dangerous situations.
- Around the Manhattan Beach Pier, where people spend time in and around the water.
- Private backyard pools, especially when gates, fences, alarms, or other safety measures are missing or not properly maintained.
- Apartment and condominium pools, where problems with fencing, maintenance, signs, or supervision can put swimmers at risk.
- Hotels and vacation rentals, where guests may not know the property or understand the risks around the pool or other swimming areas.
- Spas, hot tubs, and community pools, where poor maintenance, missing barriers, or other safety problems can lead to an accident.
Wherever the accident happened, the next step is figuring out what was happening at the time of the accident and what information can help show what went wrong.
Information You Need After a Drowning Accident
Getting information obviously isn’t your first priority when you’re close to drowning or someone you’re with is drowning. Instead, priorities go to:
- Reporting the accident to someone in charge and calling 911 for an ambulance.
That kicks everything else off. From there, do what you can to get:
- Pictures of the pool, beach, surrounding area, broken gates, missing safety equipment, slippery surfaces, or anything else that may have contributed to the accident.
- Names and contact information of people at the pool, on the Strand, near the Manhattan Beach Pier, or elsewhere saw what happened.
That’s about as much as there is at the scene right after it happens. But once things settle down in the coming days/weeks, it’s important to do what you can to get:
- The accident report from the property owner or authorities
- Your medical records
- Pool safety logs and maintenance records
- Security footage or other camera footage available
You don’t need to have all of this information figured out yourself. We can help find the records, talk to the right people, and put the pieces together. And that’s helpful when it comes to something crucial: figuring out who’s responsible.
Who’s Responsible for a Drowning Accident in Manhattan Beach?
The problem with something like a drowning or a near-drowning is that it seems like an unfortunate accident. But most of the time, they’re not random. And that’s actually what gives you your legal options later. Legally, a drowning or a near-drowning can be a premises liability issue. That means somebody in charge:
- Did something—or failed to do something—that led to the accident and your injuries.
With something like this, responsibility typically lands on:
- Homeowners who didn’t properly secure or maintain their pool
- Apartment or HOA managers who failed to keep the pool or common areas safe
- Hotels and vacation rentals that failed to address a dangerous condition
- Pool owners and operators who didn’t follow required safety measures
- Lifeguards or pool staff who failed to properly supervise swimmers
- Maintenance or equipment companies if faulty equipment contributed to the accident
- Government agencies responsible for maintaining the public property where the accident happened
It’s not difficult to figure out why this is important. It points you in the direction of who has to pay for the losses you and your family are dealing with.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover?
When you think about a near-drowning, it’s not difficult to see why it’s so traumatic. They frequently either cause injuries that last well beyond the initial accident or end up being fatal. But from your perspective, it’s about moving forward. And the best way to do that is to get “damage” by filing:
- An insurance claim outside of court
- A personal injury lawsuit in court
Once the claim is filed, the focus shifts to what you or your family have specifically lost. That’s where your damages come from, and they include things like:
- Medical bills and the cost of ongoing treatment
- Lost income and time away from work
- Emotional distress and the effects of the trauma
- Long-term physical limitations and injuries
- Changes to your daily life and independence
- Losses your family faces after a wrongful death
It can be hard to know the full impact of a drowning accident right away. Some of the biggest losses may not become clear until weeks or months later, which is why it’s important to look at both what you’ve already lost and what you may face in the future. All of that is to say that the details of what happened matter, but again, you don’t have to try to go through it alone. Our team will be there to support you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a claim if the drowning happened at Manhattan Beach or another public beach?
You may be able to. Public beach claims can have different rules and shorter deadlines, so it’s important to look at what happened and who was responsible.
What if the drowning happened at an apartment or hotel pool?
You may have a claim if unsafe conditions, poor maintenance, missing safety measures, or a lack of supervision played a role in the accident.
When should I reach out to a lawyer?
As soon as you can. Evidence can disappear, witnesses can forget details, and there may be deadlines that affect your claim.
Getting Help After a Drowning Accident in Manhattan Beach
A drowning or near-drowning can change your family’s life in a matter of minutes. Even when someone survives, there can be a long road ahead involving medical treatment, missed work, emotional trauma, and uncertainty about what comes next.
At Maison Law, we can help you figure out what happened, who may be responsible, and what your options are. We’ll handle the investigation, paperwork, and insurance company while you focus on your family and recovery. Set up a free consultation today.
