Drowning Accident Attorney in Beverly Hills
Representing Drowning Victims & Families in Southern California Since 1993
When a drowning accident takes a life or leaves a survivor with lasting injuries, families face urgent legal decisions alongside profound grief. At Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian, we represent drowning accident victims and their families throughout Beverly Hills and the greater Los Angeles area, handling both personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from negligence at private pools, hotels, public beaches, and open water. Attorney Haleh Shekarchian has led this practice since 1993, and her membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum reflects a track record of million- and multi-million-dollar results earned by fewer than 1% of U.S. attorneys.
We offer consultations in English, Spanish, and Farsi, and we’ll come to you at home or at the hospital if you can’t come to us.
If your family has been affected by a drowning accident, don’t wait to get answers. Call our Beverly Hills drowning accident attorneys at (855) 785-0297 for a free, confidential consultation with no upfront fees.
Common Causes of Drowning Accidents in Southern California
Drowning incidents in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area happen across a range of settings: residential pools, hotel and resort pools, apartment complex facilities, public beaches, waterparks, and open water. Many are preventable, and the negligence behind them tends to follow recognizable patterns.
California’s Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health and Safety Code sections 115920 through 115929) requires residential pools to have at least one of seven specified drowning prevention features, including a barrier of at least 60 inches with self-closing, self-latching gates. When these requirements aren’t met, property owners may face increased liability. Beyond residential pools, commercial facilities carry obligations for lifeguard coverage, compliant drain covers, and maintained safety equipment.
The consequences of a non-fatal drowning are serious in their own right. Oxygen deprivation during a submersion event can cause traumatic brain injury, permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and PTSD. Children are particularly vulnerable: drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Drowning Accident Claim
California premises liability law requires property owners and operators to maintain swimming areas in a reasonably safe condition. When they don’t, they can be held accountable. Depending on the circumstances, liable parties in a drowning accident claim may include:
- Residential homeowners or landlords who failed to fence or gate a pool in compliance with state law
- Hotel, resort, motel, or gym operators who lacked required lifeguard coverage or maintained unsafe facilities
- Municipalities operating public pools or beaches where required safety measures were absent
- School districts or youth organizations hosting aquatic activities without adequate supervision
- Pool equipment manufacturers when defective drains, covers, or gates contributed to the accident
In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may pursue compensation for funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and emotional distress.
Compensation Available After a Drowning Accident
The damages recoverable in a drowning accident claim depend on whether the victim survived and the severity of their injuries.
Compensation for survivors of near-drowning incidents may include:
- Emergency medical bills and hospitalization
- Long-term rehabilitation and care costs
- Lost income and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
In fatal drowning cases pursued as wrongful death claims, families can seek:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of the decedent’s financial support
- Loss of companionship and consortium
Filing Deadlines for Drowning Accident Claims in California
California law sets a two-year deadline to file most personal injury and wrongful death claims, including drowning accidents, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Missing this window can bar recovery, which is why acting quickly matters even during a difficult time.
Two exceptions are worth knowing. When the drowning victim is a minor, the statute of limitations is generally tolled until the child turns 18 under CCP section 352, so the two-year clock doesn’t start running until adulthood. When a government entity is involved, such as a municipality operating a public pool or beach, a separate and shorter deadline applies: an administrative claim must be filed within six months of the incident before a lawsuit can proceed.
Acting promptly also protects the evidence. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses become harder to locate, and safety inspection records can disappear. Early legal action preserves what’s needed to build the case.
Why Beverly Hills Families Turn to Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian
Attorney Haleh Shekarchian has represented personal injury and wrongful death clients in Southern California for over 30 years. Defense attorneys, judges, and insurance companies throughout Los Angeles and neighboring counties know our firm by reputation, and that standing matters in negotiations and at trial. Our membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum is a benchmark for significant results, achieved by fewer than 1% of practicing attorneys nationwide.
Contingency Fee Basis
Our clients pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on their behalf.
Home & Hospital Visits
We’re available to meet at your home or at the hospital, because a family dealing with a drowning accident often can’t simply walk into an office.
Multilingual Services
Consultations are available in English, Spanish, and Farsi.
Talk to a Drowning Accident Lawyer in Beverly Hills Today
We offer a free, confidential consultation with no obligation, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you. If traveling is difficult, we’ll come to you.
Contact Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian at (855) 785-0297 to speak with a Beverly Hills drowning accident attorney who can listen, advise, and fight for your family.
