Texas Water Park Drowning Lawyers
Water park drownings are among the most tragic aquatic litigation cases — not only because they inherently involve young children, but also because these types of drownings usually occur in the presence of dozens or even hundreds of other park-goers, lifeguards, and staff. Sadly, most water park drownings could have been prevented had the park been properly staffed and lifeguards not been distracted. Because water park drowning cases can become extremely complex, it is especially important in these cases to hire a legal team familiar with aquatic litigation cases. Hilliard Muñoz Gonzales L.L.P. have extensive experience litigating water accident cases involving wave pool and swimming pool drownings at water parks throughout the United States.
Parents and guardians often blame themselves in water park drowning incidents because they feel it was their responsibility to keep their children safe while at the park. Keeping a close eye on your children in large, crowded wave pools, however, can be fraught with challenges. That is why water parks are required to hire and properly train a minimum number of lifeguards and other personnel to keep children safe while using the park's facilities. When lifeguards are not properly trained or the park is not adequately staffed, the park can and should be held legally liable.
Lifeguards at most public pools and water parks adhere to what is often referred to as the 10/20 rule. Under this rule, lifeguards should be able to recognize that someone is in trouble within 10 seconds and be able to reach that person within 20 seconds. That means that no park patron would be in trouble for more than 30 seconds. Water park owners and managers should therefore staff based on the 10/20 criteria. The more swimmers in the pool, the more lifeguards that are necessary to be able to adequately recognize and reach a swimmer in trouble within 30 seconds. If you believe your loved one's drowning was the result of understaffing, contact an experienced aquatic litigation attorney to discuss your case.
In many water park drowning cases, the tragedy occurs because of cloudy or murky water, malfunctioning pool drains, and improperly maintained safety equipment. It is the responsibility of the park's owners, supervisors, and staff to ensure that the facilities are safe for guests. Failure to adequately inspect, repair or replace faulty equipment or prevent hazardous water conditions can give rise to liability when water park patrons are injured or killed as a result of the park's negligence.
Typical damages in water park accident cases include medical expenses, physical pain, mental distress, financial losses, and much more. A swimming pool accident lawsuit can also help surviving family members of drowning victims seek justice for their loss, helping to ensure that other people — adults and children alike — do not become victims as well. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in a water park accident, contact the experienced aquatic litigation team at Hilliard Muñoz Gonzales L.L.P. for a free consultation regarding your case.
