Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Swimming pool accident lawyer in Los Angeles from Lederer & Nojima is for families and injured swimmers who were hurt, or lost someone, at an unsecured or unsupervised pool and want the cause investigated, so you can identify the responsible party and protect your claim deadlines.

Pool cases involve a wide range of defendants: a homeowner or landlord, an apartment complex or homeowners association, a hotel or resort, a gym or club, a school or city, a pool service company, a camp or day care, and the manufacturer of a defective drain, cover or ladder. The right claim depends on who controlled the pool, who was responsible for the barrier and who was supposed to be watching.

The injuries are severe. A child or adult pulled from the water may suffer a brain injury from lack of oxygen, lung damage and long-term cognitive and physical problems. Anyone who has been under water should be evaluated by a doctor even if they seem fine afterward. Other pool injuries include slip and falls on wet decks, diving injuries in shallow water, entrapment in drains and electrical shock.

We investigate the scene before it changes: the fence, gate, latch and alarm, signage, depth markings, the drain cover, maintenance logs and who held the keys. David Lederer and John Nojima spent years defending insurers, so they know which of those records the other side will rely on and which they hope no one asks for.

The Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health and Safety Code section 115920 and following) requires new private residential pools and spas, and those that are remodeled with a permit, to have at least two of seven drowning-prevention features, such as an enclosure, a removable mesh fence, a safety cover, door alarms, self-closing and self-latching doors, a pool alarm or another approved feature (section 115922). Violating a safety rule is evidence in a negligence claim, and older pools and public pools are judged under their own rules and under the general duty to keep property reasonably safe.

Most California injury claims must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1), and the clock for a minor can work differently. Claims against a city, school district or other public entity usually require written notice within six months. These deadlines are easy to miss, so call right away.