Riverside’s Drowning and Near Drowning Attorney
As devastating as a drowning is, Derek is presumptively the nation’s foremost attorney authority in drowning and near-drowning cases, owing to his decades of supervisory and hands-on lifeguarding experience in addition to his successful legal career. Derek is also a frequent visitor to Riverside and the Inland Empire where some of his relatives reside.
Derek, a distinguished attorney at the Reeves Law Group, has carved out a unique niche for himself in the realm of drowning cases. His distinct approach to every case not only brings a fresh perspective, but also yields a notable track record of successful outcomes across a diverse range of drowning incidents. His strategic and sensitive methods in handling heartbreaking personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits has been instrumental in his success.
If you or a family victim has been the victim of a drowning or near drowning accident, contact us today. Call (800) 644-8000 For a Free Consultation.
Why Hire The Reeves Law Group for Your Accident Claim?
- Over $250,000,000 Recovered for Our Clients
- Newsweek’s 10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys
- No Fee Guarantee – No Fees Unless We Win
It’s a difficult decision to make the first call, but if you or your loved one has sustained a drowning or near drowning, Call (800) 644-8000 or contact us for a free consultation. We can give you formal legal advice about your drowning accident and potential premises liability claim.
How can we help in a drowning accident?
A Riverside drowning attorney like us can provide expert legal guidance and representation to victims and their families who have suffered injuries or deaths due to drowning incidents.
They can help investigate the circumstances of the incident, identify liable parties, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue fair compensation through litigation if necessary. It is important to seek the assistance of a qualified attorney as soon as possible after such an incident occurs, as time may be limited for filing a claim.
Unfortunately drowning can quickly lead to serious brain injury due to the lack of oxygen, or cerebral hypoxia. This can result in substantial economic and non-economic damages, as victims may require lifelong medical care.
About Drowning Accidents in Riverside
Riverside and Corona with their many older suburban homes that have swimming pools, numerous public swimming clubs, as well as local water features, unfortunately ensure that there are a high number of drowning accidents.
Despite rigorous safety regulations and the availability of lifeguard services at public swimming areas, Riverside experiences tragic drowning incidents each year.
Lake Perris for instance has been plagued by many water-related dangers and has had its share of deadly drowning accidents. Many of these accidents stem from negligence and could be prevented with proper safety measures and vigilant supervision by responsible parties.
For instance, a recent near-drowning accident happened at a private backyard swimming pool–a 2-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl were taken to hospitals in October 2023 after being discovered unresponsive in a backyard pool in Eastvale. Also, a man recently drowned in a lake at Rancho Jurupa Park on Friday, June 30, 2023 after swimming out to try to retrieve a fishing rod in the water, Riverside County sheriff’s officials said.
In most cases, it’s not only the victims that suffer the consequences of these types of accidents — their families are also affected and left dealing with immense pain, long-term medical expenses or even funeral costs.
Losing someone due to a drowning accident is something no one should experience whether it’s an adult or a child victim.
Where do drownings In the I.E. commonly occur?
Swimming Pools: Both public and private swimming pools are common places for drownings, especially for children. Inadequate fencing or lack of supervision can increase the risk.
Bathtubs: This is especially a risk for infants and very young children, but also for the elderly or those with mobility issues.
Parks and Small lakes: these man-made lakes often seem shallow and safe, but may hold hidden dangers. For instance, Rancho Jurupa Park has a man-made lake that recently claimed the life of a grown adult male who swam in to retrieve a fishing rod in the water. Witnesses said they saw the man go under the water and that he never resurfaced. The man later was pulled ashore with the assistance of a boat. Despite life-saving measures, he succumbed to his injuries.
Lakes and Rivers: These can also be dangerous due to undercurrents, sudden changes in depth, and the potential for fatigue or cramping while swimming far from shore.
Spas and Hot Tubs: The warm water can lead to drowsiness and accidental drowning, and the powerful jets can sometimes trap swimmers.
Boating Accidents: Lake Perris in Riverside County is sadly known for this. Drownings can occur following boating accidents in open water, as well as from water sports such as water skiing, tubing, wakeboarding and more. Scuba diving and free diving is another sport that sees drownings on a more frequent basis than we’d like to see.
Floods: Natural disasters like floods can lead to accidental drownings, often due to the swift currents and debris in the water.
Irrigation Channels or Ditches: These can be dangerous due to their unexpected depths and sometimes steep, slippery sides.
Drowning accidents can result from various negligent actions
Preventable drowning accidents are a common and devastating occurrence that can result from a wide variety of negligent actions. Negligent actions can include actions taken by the responsible party, as well as inaction or lack of reasonable care in providing adequate supervision or taking necessary precautions to protect against risks and hazardous situations.
In specific cases, the negligence of the responsible party is often easily identifiable. In other cases, it requires a detailed investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and who could be to blame.
Examples of negligent behavior that may cause preventable drowning accidents include failing to provide or maintain proper safety equipment for their pool or spa or other bodies of water, improperly maintaining fences, barriers, locks or alarm systems around such areas, failing to ensure adequate supervision for those persons near dangerous areas and not warning swimmers of potential risks.
Negligent parties can also be held liable if they fail to take steps to address a known hazard or failure to make needed repairs on swim areas and other associated facilities in a timely manner. Further, businesses or schools that host large numbers of people at pools, lakes, rivers or oceans may be liable if they fail to provide warnings about risks associated with swimming in such areas and do not take appropriate action when necessary.
On one hand, various types of reckless behavior can certainly lead to preventable drowning accidents. On the other hand, sometimes an accident is unavoidable due to the presence of multiple variables combined with natural forces out of anyone’s control. It is up to experienced legal professionals to examine all aspects of the situation and determine where the liability lies so that victims and their families can seek justice for their losses.
Role of a Specialized Attorney – Maximizing the Chance of Winning and Increasing Compensation
An experienced attorney specializes in handling drowning accident claims and helps clients navigate through difficult times while providing legal guidance throughout the healing process. Specialized attorneys will fight for fair compensation against negligent parties such as property owners, aquatic facilities or manufacturers of faulty swimming equipment. They represent individuals and families who have been victims of wrongful deaths and catastrophic injuries due to drowning.
Pursuant to state and federal statutory frameworks, swimming pool safety protocols are predominantly governed at the state jurisdiction, yet overarching federal mandates exist, notably the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act).
The federal entity, Pool Safely, executes and enforces the stipulations of the P&SS Act, imposing specific standards for public pool and spa establishments. In the state of California, pool safety regulations are codified under the Swimming Pool Safety Act, with detailed provisions for public pools delineated in the 2019 California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 31B. For entities operating within the city of Riverside, Riverside County ordinance and SB 442 require residential swimming pools, spas, or hot tubs to comply with at least two safety barrier requirements. These barriers must be inspected and approved before plastering or filling the pool with water. In some cases, a residential pool’s property fence and gate satisfy this requirement, however in commercial settings it gets more complicated based on access and crowd-control requirements
Navigating such regulatory landscapes can be intricate; thus, for legal inquiries or potential issues, consultation with the legal professionals at the Reeves Law Group, specialists in drowning accident cases, is recommended.
While filing an insurance claim without legal guidance is like driving down a freeway without knowing any traffic rules, it’s essential to have someone who understands the complexities of drowning accidents laws — especially if you want fast results and fair compensation.
Legal representation in such cases is pivotal since many liability factors come into play. For example, California law requires those found guilty of negligence at swimming pools to pay reasonable settlements due to wrongful death suits filed by surviving family members.
Client Representation
One of the main reasons why people seek the help of an attorney is to represent them in their lawsuit. In cases of drowning accidents, a lawyer with experience and expertise in this area can make all the difference when it comes to protecting your rights and getting the compensation you deserve.
A specialized drowning accident attorney will have extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations pertaining to swimming pools, and other aquatic environments in Riverside and surrounding cities. They will also have experience dealing with insurance companies, local authorities, and other key players involved in these types of cases.
Why Personal Experience and Expertise is Key
In the complex terrain of drowning and near-drowning cases, the benefits of working with an attorney possessing both personal experience and professional expertise cannot be overstated.
Derek Pakiz is the embodiment of this ideal blend. As the nation’s presumptive foremost authority in drowning and near-drowning cases, Mr. Pakiz’s decades of supervisory and hands-on lifeguarding experience as well as a decades-long boat owner make him uniquely equipped to empathetically navigate the intricacies of these cases, providing clients with much-needed support.
Mr. Pakiz’s personal experience with drowning incidents enhances his ability to anticipate potential challenges and provide invaluable insights. His experience and consulting isn’t theoretical – it’s practical, tested, and proven. Navigating unfamiliar legal territory can be daunting, but with Mr. Pakiz, it’s akin to having a seasoned guide who has walked the same path, helping you avoid pitfalls and stay on course, all while providing emotional support.
Derek Pakiz isn’t just a legal expert in drowning accidents; he’s lived the reality of these situations and has rescued swimmers and waders countless times from the water in Southern California.
Did you know:
- In 2024, there are hundreds of registered lawyers practicing personal injury law in Riverside County. A very small subset of these lawyers specialize in drowning and swimming pool accident cases.
- According to the California Water Safety Coalition, between 2005 and 2020, the most at-risk groups for drownings are babies/toddlers, and middle aged people. Children between the ages of 1-4 saw 87 devastating deaths, and the age group of 45-64 saw 81 tragic deaths as well.
Contact Our Drowning and near drowning Accident LAW FIRM
Personal Injury Attorney Derek Pakiz has won thousands of cases, including numerous swimming pool and other drowning cases, and have earned a reputation for professionalism and competence. We have the experience, skill, and resources to ensure that our clients will obtain optimum representation in their wrongful death or accident claim.
Call our attorney representing swimming pool and drowning accidents at t (800) 644-8000 or contact us for a free consultation. For your convenience, we make home and hospital visits throughout the Riverside area.
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