Florida Drowning Accident Lawyers

When tragedy strikes on the water, you need a Florida drowning accident lawyer who knows how to hold negligent parties accountable and fight for your family’s future. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we’ve helped countless families seek justice after preventable drowning accidents in pools, lakes, waterparks, and resorts across Florida.

Every second counts after an accident like this, so does having the right team on your side is crucial. Call us today for a free, confidential consultation, and let us help you find answers, closure, and the compensation you deserve.

The Heartbreak of Drowning Accidents in Florida

To understand what families face after a tragedy like this, it helps to know just how common and preventable, these accidents are in our state.

Florida has one of the highest drowning rates in the country, especially among children under five. With warm weather and thousands of private and public pools, water accidents can happen anywhere, but most are preventable.

We’ve represented families after drownings in hotel pools, apartment complexes, Airbnbs, and private residences. Often, it comes down to the same issue: someone didn’t take safety seriously enough.

Common Causes of Drowning Accidents

Behind every drowning is a set of preventable mistakes. Knowing what causes these accidents is the first step toward proving negligence and protecting others from the same fate.

Most drowning accidents happen because someone failed to take safety seriously. Whether it’s at a backyard pool, hotel, or open water, nearly all drownings are preventable when proper precautions are followed. The most common causes include:

• Lack of Supervision: Children left unattended near pools, bathtubs, or open water are at the highest risk. Even a few seconds without supervision can be fatal.
• Missing or Broken Barriers: Florida law requires pool owners to install protective fencing, gates, or alarms. When these safety features are missing or not maintained, it often leads to tragedy.
• Negligent Lifeguards or Staff: At hotels, waterparks, and public pools, inattentive or poorly trained lifeguards contribute to many drownings each year.
• Defective or Dangerous Equipment: Faulty pool drains, broken ladders, malfunctioning pumps, or defective life jackets can all create deadly hazards.
• Boating Accidents: Reckless boating, speeding, overcrowding, or operating under the influence of alcohol frequently leads to drowning in Florida’s lakes, canals, and coastal waters.
• Unsafe Conditions at Rental Homes or Resorts: Unmarked pool depths, slippery decks, or lack of rescue equipment make private vacation rentals and resort pools especially dangerous.
• Lack of Warning Signs: Failing to post depth markers or “No Diving” warnings in public or private pools can expose property owners to liability.
• Inadequate Maintenance: Poor water visibility, missing drain covers, and cloudy pool water prevent quick rescue and delay recognition when someone is in trouble.

Each of these causes comes down to negligence, when someone didn’t take the simple steps that could have saved a life.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Drowning Accident

Once the cause is clear, the next question becomes: who is legally responsible? In Florida, several parties can share liability depending on where and how the drowning happened.

Liability in drowning cases depends on where and how the tragedy occurred. Our attorneys look at every factor to determine who’s responsible, because in many cases, multiple parties share the blame.

• Residential Pools: Homeowners and landlords can be liable for failing to install required safety features such as fences, door alarms, or pool covers under Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act. Negligent supervision, poor maintenance, or unlocked gates often play a role.
• Hotels, Resorts, and Apartment Complexes: Property owners and management companies must keep pools safe for guests and residents. Missing safety signs, broken latches, or untrained lifeguards can all amount to negligence.
• Public Pools and Waterparks: Municipalities and private operators must ensure proper supervision and equipment. Lifeguard inattention, uncovered drains, or unsafe pool depths can expose them to liability.
• Daycares, Camps, and Schools: Institutions responsible for children have a strict duty to supervise. A moment of distraction can lead to tragedy, and those organizations can be held accountable.
• Boating and Jet Ski Accidents: Operators who drive recklessly, speed in restricted areas, or operate under the influence can be held liable for boating accidents that cause injury or death. Rental companies may also face claims if they fail to provide safe, well-maintained vessels, proper safety equipment, or clear operating instructions.
• Product Manufacturers: Defective pool drains, flotation devices, or life jackets can make a manufacturer responsible under product liability law.

Our team identifies every liable party, investigates their role, and ensures no one escapes responsibility.

Florida Laws That Protect Drowning Victims and Their Families

Florida’s laws were written to hold these negligent parties accountable and to protect families after a drowning or near-drowning accident. Here are the key statutes that shape your rights.

Florida has strong laws designed to protect families after drowning accidents. These include:

• Premises Liability (§768, Florida Statutes): Property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe and warn guests of dangers. Neglecting pool safety rules, ignoring maintenance, or failing to supervise can make them liable.
• Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (§515.27): Every residential pool must have at least one safety feature — such as a barrier, pool cover, or door alarm. When owners ignore these requirements, that negligence can be the basis for a claim.
• Boating Safety Laws (§327): Boaters must operate responsibly and avoid alcohol impairment. Violating these rules can lead to both criminal penalties and civil lawsuits.
• Wrongful Death Claims (§95.11(4)(d)): Families typically have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida. Missing this deadline can forfeit your right to compensation.

These laws exist to hold negligent individuals and businesses accountable, and to give grieving families the path toward justice they deserve.

What to Do After a Drowning Accident

Knowing the law is important, but what you do in the moments right after an accident matters even more. These steps can help you protect your loved one’s safety and preserve your legal options.

When a drowning happens, emotions take over. What you do in those moments can protect your loved one’s safety and your family’s legal rights later.

If the Drowning Was Non-Fatal

1. Call 911 Immediately. Even if the person seems alert, oxygen loss can cause delayed injuries.
2. Get Full Medical Care. Insist on emergency evaluation and follow-up. “Secondary drowning” and brain injury symptoms can appear later.
3. Document the Scene. Take photos or videos of the pool, dock, or boat and note any missing safety features.
4. Get Witness Details. Names, phone numbers, and statements can later prove negligence.
5. Avoid Speaking with Insurance Representatives. Don’t sign or record anything without your attorney present.
6. Contact a Drowning Accident Lawyer. Once the victim is stable, call a lawyer right away so evidence isn’t lost.

If the Drowning Was Fatal

1. Report It Immediately. Notify police or marine patrol so an official report is created.
2. Obtain the Report Number. This helps your attorney access official findings quickly.
3. Do Not Communicate with Property Owners or Businesses. Their insurance adjusters will protect their interests, not yours.
4. Preserve Evidence. Photos, videos, receipts, or even pool passes can make a difference.
5. Seek Support. Grief counseling and emotional care are vital while we handle the legal side.
6. Call a Wrongful Death Attorney. Florida’s two-year limit on wrongful death claims moves fast, and the sooner we begin, the stronger your case.

No family should ever have to go through this, but when they do, we make sure they don’t go through it alone.

How Our Drowning Accident Lawyers Help You and Your Family

After taking those first steps, it’s time to let our team handle what comes next. Here’s how our drowning accident lawyers take over to protect your rights and build your case.

Right after a drowning, evidence fades fast. Witnesses forget. Insurance companies start calling. Property owners clean up the scene. That’s why our team acts immediately. We send investigators to secure footage, collect witness statements, and preserve every piece of evidence before it disappears. We also work with medical and safety experts to show exactly what went wrong and who is responsible.

Our personal injury lawyers take care of every step, so you can focus on your family’s healing. Here’s how we help:

1. Free Consultation and Case Review – You’ll speak directly with someone who understands your situation. We review what happened, identify potential liable parties, and clearly explain your legal options.
2. Investigation and Evidence Collection – We gather police reports, 911 recordings, maintenance logs, and witness statements. For business or resort incidents, we issue immediate preservation requests to prevent them from destroying key evidence.
3. Working with Experts – Our network includes pool safety engineers, doctors, and accident reconstruction specialists who can help prove negligence. In near-drowning cases, medical experts document long-term brain or neurological injuries for full compensation.
4. Filing the Claim and Dealing with Insurance – You’ll never have to deal with insurance adjusters or defense lawyers. We prepare your claim, handle all communication, and push back against low offers or delay tactics.
5. Negotiation and Settlement – We negotiate aggressively to secure fair compensation for your family. You’ll always know where your case stands.
6. Trial, If Necessary – If the other side refuses to take responsibility, we’re ready for court. Our attorneys have decades of trial experience and the resources to stand up to corporate defendants and large insurers.

We manage everything from start to finish, ensuring your rights are protected and your case gets the attention it deserves.

Non-Fatal Drownings and Long-Term Injuries

While some drownings are fatal, others leave victims with life-altering injuries. These cases require not just legal skill but medical insight and long-term planning.

Some drowning victims survive but suffer severe and lifelong injuries. Oxygen deprivation can cause permanent brain damage, mobility loss, or cognitive impairment. These cases require long-term care, therapy, and financial planning.

We work with doctors, rehabilitation experts, and life-care planners to calculate the cost of ongoing care and make sure your family is compensated for every future expense.

What Compensation Covers

The financial impact of these injuries or losses can be overwhelming. Here’s what compensation can include and how we help your family recover financially.

Financial recovery in drowning accident and wrongful death cases can include:

• Medical and hospital expenses
• Long-term care and therapy costs
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Lost income or future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of companionship and parental guidance

Every case is unique, and we tailor our strategy to your family’s specific needs. Our goal is to ease the financial burden so you can focus on emotional healing.

Why Families Trust Steinger, Greene & Feiner

Choosing the right legal representation makes all the difference. Families across Florida trust Steinger, Greene & Feiner to guide them through their most difficult times.

For over 25 years, we’ve provided trusted legal representation to Florida families rebuilding their lives after devastating accidents. Our law firm has recovered over $2 billion for injury victims, holding negligent corporations, property owners, and insurers accountable.

We understand that your case is more than paperwork. It’s your life, your loss, and your path to justice. You’ll always have a direct line to our team, 24/7. We act fast, communicate clearly, and fight relentlessly until you get the results you deserve.

Serving Clients Across Florida

We’ve represented clients from Miami to Jacksonville, Orlando to Tampa, Fort Myers to West Palm Brach. Whether your rear-end crash happened on I-275, in a parking lot, or on a rural road, our law firm is ready to start your free case evaluation today.

• Miami
• West Palm Beach
• Coral Gables
• Fort Lauderdale
• Fort Myers
• Jacksonville
• Tampa
• Okeechobee
• Orlando
• Port St. Lucie
• St. Petersburg

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

If you’re ready to take the next step, we’re here to make it easy. Our team is always available to answer your questions and start your case immediately.

If your loved one drowned due to someone’s negligence, you have rights, and we’re here to protect them. Speak with a Florida drowning accident attorney today for a free, confidential consultation.

We’ll listen, guide you through your next steps, and fight for the justice and compensation your family deserves. You can call Steinger, Greene & Feiner 24/7, fill out our quick online form, or visit one of our offices across Florida to meet with our legal team in person.