Las Vegas is renowned for its glittering resorts, luxurious hotels, and sprawling private homes—many of which feature swimming pools meant for relaxation and enjoyment. But beneath the allure lies a devastating reality: drowning incidents occur far too frequently, leaving families shattered and lives forever changed. Whether the victim is a child or an adult, the emotional pain is profound, and the legal complexities can be overwhelming.

In the wake of a drowning tragedy, immediate legal guidance is crucial. Families need compassionate advocates who understand the grief, the nuances of Nevada law, and the importance of holding responsible parties accountable. At Drummond Law Firm, we stand ready to provide that guidance with integrity and dedication.

Why Drummond Law Firm Is the Right Choice for Drowning Cases

No law firm can erase the heartbreak caused by a drowning. But at Drummond Law Firm, we strive to bring clarity, justice, and support during the darkest times. Our commitment is to fight aggressively on your behalf while honoring the memory of your loved one.

Leadership You Can Trust

Attorney Craig W. Drummond is a former U.S. Army Captain and Bronze Star Medal recipient. His military background instills discipline, resilience, and unwavering commitment in our legal practice. When you work with us, you benefit from an experienced trial attorney who approaches every case with the highest level of professionalism and care.

Compassionate, Hands-On Representation

We understand that families facing drowning cases need more than legal expertise—they need empathy. At Drummond Law Firm, you are never just a case number. We listen carefully, communicate openly, and provide personalized service throughout the legal process.

Whether your case involves a hotel, residential property, or private residence, working with a Drummond Law Firm Las Vegas personal injury lawyer ensures that every legal angle is explored and every responsible party is held accountable.

Trial-Ready for Maximum Accountability

Drowning cases often require a courtroom fight to ensure justice is served. From day one, we prepare your case as if it will go to trial. This readiness sends a clear message to opposing parties that we will not settle for anything less than full accountability.

The Reduced Fee Guarantee®

Our firm proudly offers Nevada’s only Reduced Fee Guarantee. If your case settles before a lawsuit is filed, we will never take more from your settlement than you receive. This commitment to fairness is part of how we honor our clients’ trust during such difficult times.

Understanding Drowning Liability Under Nevada Law

Drowning incidents fall under two major legal frameworks: premises liability and wrongful death law. Property owners and operators have a duty to ensure their pools and surrounding areas are safe and properly supervised. When negligence breaches this duty and leads to drowning, they can be held responsible.

Premises Liability

Nevada premises liability law requires property owners—whether hotels, apartment complexes, HOAs, or private homeowners—to maintain reasonably safe conditions. This includes providing adequate fencing, functioning pool equipment, and sufficient supervision or warning signs.

Failure to meet these obligations can result in civil liability if a drowning occurs due to a hazardous condition or lack of preventative measures.

Wrongful Death Claims

When a drowning results in death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. This legal action seeks compensation for the loss, including funeral expenses, lost financial support, and emotional damages.

Nevada law recognizes that families deserve justice and accountability when negligence causes such tragic outcomes.

Where and How Pool Drownings Happen

Drowning incidents can occur in a variety of pool settings across Las Vegas. Each environment presents unique risks and legal considerations.

Hotel and Resort Pools with Inadequate Lifeguard Presence

While many resorts advertise lifeguards, actual supervision can be limited or absent. Without trained personnel actively monitoring, swimmers—especially children—are vulnerable to unnoticed distress.

Lack of supervision is a common factor in fatal pool incidents on hospitality properties.

Apartment or HOA Pools with Broken Gates or No Fencing

Many residential communities feature shared pools protected by fencing and gates to prevent unsupervised access. When these barriers are broken, unlocked, or missing, children and vulnerable adults can enter without permission.

Such security failures often contribute to drowning accidents and carry significant liability for property managers.

Private Backyard Pools Left Unsecured

Homeowners are legally obligated to secure their pools to prevent accidental drownings—particularly when children live nearby or visit. Unlocked gates, missing alarms, or inadequate fencing expose homeowners to liability under Nevada’s attractive nuisance doctrine.

Tragic drownings in private pools often result from lapses in these safety measures.

Crowded or Unsupervised Pool Parties

Pools at hotels, residential communities, or private homes can become dangerous during parties or events where supervision is lacking. Alcohol consumption, overcrowding, and chaotic environments increase the risk of accidents.

Property owners and event organizers have a duty to manage these risks, and failure to do so may lead to legal responsibility.

Faulty Pool Equipment or Hidden Hazards

Broken drains, malfunctioning filtration systems, or submerged obstacles can create deadly conditions. These hidden dangers often go unnoticed until an injury or drowning occurs.

Proper maintenance and timely repairs are critical legal requirements for pool operators.

Child Drownings and the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine

Swimming pools pose a special risk to children, who may not understand the dangers of water or how to stay safe. Nevada law recognizes this heightened risk through the attractive nuisance doctrine, which holds property owners to a higher standard when it comes to preventing child injuries.

Under this doctrine, pool owners must go beyond basic safety measures. They are legally required to take reasonable precautions to prevent children from gaining unsupervised access to the pool area. This includes installing secure fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates, pool alarms, and adequate supervision when necessary.

The law acknowledges that children are naturally drawn to pools and may not recognize the dangers. Therefore, property owners cannot simply rely on signs or warnings—they must actively safeguard the property against foreseeable harm. Failure to do so can result in liability if a child gains access and drowns.

Who May Be Legally Responsible for a Drowning?

Determining liability in drowning cases requires careful investigation of the property and parties involved. Multiple entities may share responsibility depending on the circumstances.

Hotels, Casinos, and Resorts With Negligent Pool Safety Protocols

Large hospitality properties must maintain safe pools, provide proper supervision, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. If lifeguards were absent, equipment was faulty, or safety barriers inadequate, these businesses can be held liable.

The complexity of ownership and management in these establishments requires expert legal navigation to hold all responsible parties accountable.

Apartment Complexes or Residential Landlords

Residential pools managed by landlords or homeowners’ associations carry specific safety obligations. Failure to install or maintain secure fencing, gates, or pool alarms may expose these entities to liability in drowning cases.

Landlords also have a duty to inform tenants of pool rules and safety measures, which factors into negligence claims.

Lifeguard Staffing Companies

When pools employ third-party lifeguard companies, those firms may be liable if lifeguards were negligent, absent, or inadequately trained. Proper staffing and supervision are critical, and failure in these areas can lead to serious consequences.

Property Owners Who Failed to Install Proper Barriers or Follow Safety Codes

Whether private homeowners or commercial operators, failing to meet Nevada’s pool safety codes—including fencing, signage, and equipment maintenance—is a clear breach of duty. This negligence is often a central focus in drowning claims.

Event Hosts or Organizers Who Failed to Monitor Guests

Pool parties or events with large crowds require additional vigilance. Hosts and event organizers have a legal responsibility to supervise and control the environment. Failure to monitor intoxicated guests or overcrowding may contribute to drownings and trigger liability.

The Legal Process After a Fatal Drowning

Losing a loved one to drowning is a heartbreaking tragedy. Navigating the legal process at such a time can be daunting, but understanding what to expect can help families make informed decisions.

Filing a Wrongful Death or Personal Injury Claim

Surviving family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for funeral costs, lost income, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering. If the victim survived but suffered injury, a personal injury claim may be pursued.

Both claims require establishing negligence and causation under Nevada law.

Preserving Evidence and Identifying Liability

Critical to any case is the preservation of evidence—surveillance footage, maintenance logs, witness statements, and inspection reports. Early legal intervention ensures these materials are secured before they are lost or altered.

Our attorneys meticulously gather and analyze all available evidence to build a compelling case.

Valuing the Loss (Economic and Non-Economic Damages)

Wrongful death and injury claims include economic damages such as medical and funeral expenses, lost wages, and future support. Non-economic damages encompass pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship.

Properly valuing these damages requires legal and medical expertise to ensure fair compensation.

Navigating Nevada’s Statute of Limitations and Wrongful Death Laws

Nevada law imposes strict deadlines for filing wrongful death and personal injury claims—typically two years from the date of death or injury. Missing these deadlines usually results in losing the right to compensation.

Our legal team guides families through these timeframes to protect their rights.

How Drummond Law Firm Investigates and Builds Your Case

We approach every drowning case with thoroughness, compassion, and a strategic focus on accountability. Understanding the sensitive nature of these tragedies, our team combines empathetic client care with rigorous legal investigation to build the strongest possible case.

Obtaining Surveillance or Pool Area Footage

Video evidence can be crucial in establishing how the incident occurred. We work quickly to obtain and preserve any footage from pool cameras, resort security, or nearby properties. Because surveillance recordings are often deleted or overwritten within days, timing is critical. Our attorneys send immediate preservation notices to all relevant parties to ensure this vital evidence is secured before it can be lost.

Gathering Inspection, Maintenance, and Staffing Records

We subpoena all relevant documents showing pool inspections, safety checks, lifeguard schedules, and maintenance histories to identify any lapses or violations. These records allow us to track whether property owners complied with state and local safety regulations, maintained equipment properly, and provided adequate supervision. A pattern of neglect or ignored warnings significantly strengthens our claim. We also review any prior incident reports or complaints to demonstrate ongoing hazards that were overlooked.

Interviewing Witnesses and Experts

Witnesses provide firsthand accounts that clarify circumstances and reveal safety shortcomings. Our attorneys personally interview all available witnesses, including guests, staff, and emergency responders, to gather detailed and consistent testimonies. Additionally, we retain medical experts who assess the extent of injuries and long-term impact on the victim’s health. Pool safety specialists and engineers help evaluate compliance with safety standards, identify hazardous conditions, and explain technical aspects in a way that juries and insurance adjusters understand.

Establishing Safety Code Violations or Breaches of Duty

By comparing conditions against Nevada safety codes and industry standards, we build a case showing that the property owner failed to meet legal obligations, directly contributing to the tragedy. We meticulously document any violations, whether related to fencing, alarms, signage, lifeguard requirements, or equipment maintenance. These breaches of duty are central to proving negligence. We also analyze whether owners followed best practices in risk prevention and whether any deviation from those standards resulted in the fatal incident.

In the wake of a drowning, families need more than sympathy—they need justice. Time is critical for preserving evidence, meeting filing deadlines, and securing your legal rights.

Drummond Law Firm offers private, no-cost consultations where we listen carefully and explain your options with respect and understanding. Our team is ready to provide principled, hands-on support from day one.