{"id":353453,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:59","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/drowning.html"},"modified":"2025-08-25T12:16:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T17:16:30","slug":"drowning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/drowning.html","title":{"rendered":"Drowning Accidents and Legal Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Drowning Accidents and Legal Claims<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Drowning accidents can involve legal liability for personal injuries. Liability doesn’t mean that anyone wanted the drowning to occur. Rather, it means that someone failed to meet a legal duty of care, leading to someone drowning.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Drowning accidents devastate thousands of families every year. Drowning cases often end lives too soon.<\/p>\n

Someone’s negligence or recklessness may cause another person to drown. In this case, the victim’s family may receive compensation for the loss of their loved one through a\u00a0wrongful death<\/a>\u00a0lawsuit. For example, private pool owners or property owners may have\u00a0premises liability<\/a>\u00a0to young children and other swimmers in the pool area.<\/p>\n

Though the damage can never be fully reversed, a legal claim can help with the practical needs of an injured person or grieving family. A personal injury lawyer<\/a> can review your case with you to explain your options.<\/p>\n

Filing a Drowning Lawsuit<\/h2>\n

Suppose a person dies in a fatal drowning accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of someone else. The victim’s family members may sue, alleging wrongful death. This type of civil lawsuit is separate from any criminal charges<\/a> that may apply.<\/p>\n

The process for wrongful death lawsuits<\/a> begins with clarifying a few details with your lawyer, including:<\/p>\n