It is always best to speak with an accidental drowning lawyer in Sacramento to understand the exact federal, state, and local laws that may come into play in your particular case. Our lawyers have handled many drowning cases in our 50-plus years of combined experience and can help you understand your rights. That being said, there are a few basic laws surrounding drowning accidents in Sacramento, CA often involving:
Premises liability. Property owners with pools, lakes, or other bodies of water on their premises owe duties of care to prevent accidental drowning. Property owners even owe this duty to trespassers, if they are children. Owners must install adequate pool covers, fences, safety gates, and other measures to ensure children cannot access pools unsupervised.
Pool owner negligence. In some cases, a poorly maintained and unsafe pool may be the main cause of a drowning incident. Broken drains, for example, can trap the hair and/or limbs of swimmers, holding them underwater. It is every pool owner or manager’s duty to properly maintain the pool, replacing broken or outdated drains, repairing dangerous components, and posting signs such as “No Diving” to prevent injury to swimmers.
Inadequate supervision. Pool parties at private homes or schools require adequate adult supervision if children are swimming. Failure to supervise children in pools is a main cause of childhood drowning accidents and deaths. If this sounds like something that happened to your child, it is important to speak with us as soon as possible. Your child has likely been the victim of negligence, and your family may be eligible to receive compensation.
Boater negligence. Drowning accidents in Old Sacramento, the Sacramento River, or other nearby bodies of water may stem from the negligence of boaters or other water vessel operators. After a boating accident involving drowning, take down the names and information of everyone involved, including eyewitnesses. Call the police if an accident resulted in serious injury or major property damage. Then, call a lawyer.