Fort Lauderdale Drowning Accident Lawyer
People visit and live in Florida to be closer to the water. It is true that the state boasts nearly 700 miles of beaches, over 11,000 miles of streams, rivers, and other waterways, as well as thousands of residential swimming pools. In fact, there are more swimming pools in Broward County than anywhere else in Florida. While the water is certainly one of Florida’s biggest attractions, it is also one of the most dangerous.
Drowning accidents are far too common in Fort Lauderdale, and children are the most vulnerable. If you have lost someone you love and someone else is to blame, it is important to speak to a Fort Lauderdale drowning accident lawyer who can help.
Drowning Accidents Involving Children
Tragically, children are the most likely to lose their lives in a drowning accident. According to the Florida Health Department, children under the age of four represent 44 percent of drowning deaths in the state. The majority of these fatalities occur in residential swimming pools.
Due to the fact that children are more likely to be involved in a drowning accident, state law offers them certain protection. Typically, property owners do not owe trespassers a duty of care to keep them safe. This is not the case when there is a pool on the property. Pools are considered an attractive nuisance and property owners must ensure children do not become injured by them.
What is an Attractive Nuisance?
Attractive nuisances are defined as objects, items, or features on a property that are attractive to small children who, due to their age, cannot fully understand the risk they pose. Property owners who have pools on their premises, or any other body of water, must understand that children may enter the property to play in them and suffer from a drowning accident.
To prevent tragedies from occurring, property owners must take certain steps to ensure children do not become hurt. These include making sure pools and other water sources are gated and secured with locks so no one can enter the property without the property owner’s consent. Doors that lead to a pool must also be equipped with sensors and alarms to notify the property owner if a child uses one of those doors to access the pool.
When property owners have failed to take these measures, they can be held liable for paying damages. Property owners must also ensure their pool and its surroundings are safe so people do not fall into a pool or become trapped, such as when clothing or hair becomes caught in drains.
Our Drowning Accident Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Can Help with Your Case
If you have lost someone you love to drowning, and the death was caused by someone else’s negligence, contact our Fort Lauderdale drowning accident lawyer. At Spencer Morgan Law, our experienced attorney can guide you through the process and help you receive any financial compensation you are entitled to. Call us now at 305-423-3800 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your case.