Drownings in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Drowning Accident Attorney

Trial-Ready Representation for Drowning Victims & Families in Las Vegas

When a drowning or near-drowning accident happens, the people responsible often have legal teams and insurers moving fast to protect their interests. Cohan PLLC moves just as fast to protect yours. We represent drowning victims and families throughout Las Vegas, building every case as though it will go before a jury from day one. That posture matters when you’re going up against a hotel operator or resort insurer that has handled these claims before.

Founding attorney Chasen Cohan is a Las Vegas native who knows the local courts, the judges, and the tactics insurers use to minimize these claims. Whether your case involves a wrongful death, a catastrophic injury, or a near-drowning that left a survivor with lasting harm, we’re here to fight for full accountability. Consultations are free, available in both English and Spanish, and there are no attorney fees or costs unless we recover compensation for you.

Please call (702) 623-3579 or contact us online, and we will be glad to discuss your rights and legal options during a completely free consultation.

Why Las Vegas Pools Carry Serious Risk

Las Vegas isn’t like most cities when it comes to water. The area has approximately 110,000 residential pools and around 3,400 commercial pools and spas, meaning pool access is woven into daily life here. Add the resort and hotel pool culture: dayclubs with alcohol service and large-scale pool parties. The risk factors multiply in ways that don’t exist in most other markets.

Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death in Southern Nevada for young children, according to Clark County Fire. Nationally, there are approximately 3,960 fatal unintentional drownings each year, an average of 11 deaths per day. Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates, and most child drownings occur in swimming pools. What makes this especially dangerous is that drowning is often silent. A child can enter water and drown in seconds without any splashing or sound that alerts a nearby adult.

Barriers make a measurable difference. A four-sided isolation fence separating the pool from the house and yard reduces a child’s drowning risk by 83 percent. When property owners fail to install or maintain those barriers, that failure is a legal one as much as a physical one.

The Lasting Harm of Nonfatal Drowning Injuries

Surviving a drowning doesn’t mean escaping serious injury. The most significant nonfatal drowning injury is hypoxic brain injury, which occurs when oxygen flow to the brain is cut off during submersion. Even a brief period without oxygen can cause damage that changes a person’s life permanently. Effects can include coma, motor impairments, communication and cognitive deficits, memory loss, and in severe cases, total disability requiring around-the-clock care.

More than half of drowning victims who require hospitalization need rehabilitation or long-term care after discharge. Survivors may also sustain spinal injuries, fractures, and trauma from falls on pool decks that preceded the drowning. These aren’t injuries people simply recover from and move on. They reshape everything: work, relationships, independence, and the financial stability of the entire family.

Compensation Available in Nevada Drowning Claims

The categories of recoverable damages depend on whether the victim survived. In a nonfatal drowning claim, they can include past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, loss of future earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, and emotional distress. When a drowning is fatal, a wrongful death claim in Nevada can pursue compensation for medical expenses incurred before death, funeral and burial costs, the deceased’s lost income and benefits, loss of companionship and care, and surviving family members’ grief and sorrow.

In cases where the at-fault party showed willful disregard for known safety hazards at a commercial pool, Nevada law also allows for punitive damages. Families should know that insurance companies representing hotels, resorts, and apartment complexes often make quick settlement offers directly to grieving families. Those initial offers routinely fall far short of full value. An attorney who investigates pool safety protocols, staff training records, maintenance logs, and equipment inspection history builds the evidence needed to pursue what the case may be worth.

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Common Causes of Drowning Accidents

Most drowning accidents in Las Vegas are preventable. Whether they occur at a hotel pool, a private residence, or a public facility, these incidents often trace back to negligence or unsafe conditions that could have been corrected.

Some of the most common causes include:

Lack of Supervision: Inadequate supervision is among the most common causes of drowning, particularly at hotels and resorts, and apartment complexes. When lifeguards are absent, distracted, or poorly trained, a drowning can happen in seconds. Children and non-swimmers face the greatest risk.
Broken or Missing Barriers: Clark County requires pool fencing at least 60 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. When these barriers are missing, broken, or improperly installed, young children can access pool areas with tragic results. Property owners who fail to maintain these features can be held legally responsible for resulting injuries or deaths.
Defective Pool Equipment: Faulty drains or filtration systems can create powerful suction forces that trap swimmers underwater. These entrapment hazards are governed federally by the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. We can investigate whether equipment defects or safety standard violations contributed to the incident.
Unsafe Pool Decks and Surfaces: Slippery or uneven pool decks increase the risk of falls and head injuries that can lead to unconsciousness and drowning. Resorts and apartment complexes are expected to keep these areas slip-resistant and properly maintained. Failure to do so may constitute negligence under Nevada premises liability law.
Missing Warning Signs or Safety Equipment: Hotels, resorts, and public pools must post depth markers and no-diving warnings and maintain accessible life rings and rescue equipment. When these measures are absent, swimmers may be unaware of hazards or unable to get help quickly in an emergency.
Inadequate Training or Staffing: Even when lifeguards are present, poor training can leave them unable to recognize distress or respond effectively. Employers who cut corners on staffing or skip proper lifeguard training may be liable when that failure leads to injury or death.
Alcohol and Impairment: Las Vegas resort pools, dayclubs, and hotel events frequently involve alcohol service. When property owners and event organizers fail to manage the risks that come with that environment, they can be held accountable. The attractive nuisance doctrine adds another layer of liability when pools are accessible to children who wander in without invitation.

By investigating pool safety protocols, staff training records, maintenance logs, and equipment inspection history, we can uncover the full scope of negligence and build a case for accountability on behalf of the victim or their family.

Why Families Choose Cohan PLLC for Drowning Cases

Chasen Cohan is a seasoned trial attorney and Las Vegas native with deep ties to this community and direct knowledge of the courts and judges who handle these cases. We prepare every drowning case for trial from the start. This approach shapes how evidence is gathered and how insurers respond when they know a case is being built for a jury. We handle complex premises liability matters and catastrophic injury claims, and we receive referrals from other attorneys who recognize what that level of preparation means for high-stakes cases. Consultations are free, services are available in English and Spanish, and clients pay nothing in attorney fees unless we recover compensation for them.

Review your legal options in a free consultation. Call (702) 623-3579 to speak with a drowning attorney in Las Vegas today.

Nevada’s Legal Deadlines for Drowning Claims

Time limits in drowning cases are strict, and missing them generally forfeits the right to compensation. Under NRS 11.190(4)(e), Nevada’s personal injury statute of limitations gives injured parties two years from the date of injury to file a claim. Wrongful death claims arising from a fatal drowning carry the same two-year deadline, running from the date of death rather than the date of the accident.

Exceptions That May Extend Your Deadline

Two important exceptions apply. For minors injured in a drowning accident, the clock doesn’t start running until the minor turns 18 under NRS 11.250, which can significantly extend the filing window. For claims against government entities, such as a public pool operated by Clark County, NRS 41.036 requires a notice of claim to be filed within two years of the injury before a lawsuit can proceed.

Why Acting Quickly Still Matters

Even with time on your side, waiting carries real risk. Insurance companies may contact families quickly after a drowning with settlement offers, and accepting an early offer doesn’t pause the legal clock. It can permanently limit what a family recovers. The sooner we begin investigating, the better. Surveillance footage, pool maintenance records, lifeguard training logs, and witness accounts can disappear or degrade quickly, and preserving that evidence early is one of the most important things we can do for a case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Drowning Accident in Las Vegas?

Liability depends on where the drowning occurred and what caused it. Property owners, hotel and resort operators, apartment complexes, pool equipment manufacturers, and event organizers can all be held accountable depending on the circumstances. Nevada premises liability law requires property owners to maintain reasonably safe conditions. When they fail and someone is harmed, a claim may exist against them.

How Long Does a Drowning Injury Case Take to Resolve?

There’s no standard timeline. Cases that settle without litigation typically resolve faster than those that go to trial. The complexity of the negligence, the severity of the injuries, and how aggressively the at-fault party’s insurer defends the claim all affect how long the process takes. Cohan PLLC keeps clients informed throughout and won’t settle until an offer reflects the full value of what was lost.

Does It Cost Anything to Speak with a Drowning Lawyer?

No. Cohan PLLC offers free consultations with no obligation, available in English and Spanish. If we take your case, we handle it on a contingency fee basis: no attorney fees or costs unless we recover compensation for you. You can focus on your family without worrying about legal bills.

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Our Firm Puts You First

Results-Driven Representation You Can Trust

"Our experience with Cohan PLLC and Attorney Chasen Cohan has been outstanding from start to finish."
Our experience with Cohan PLLC and Attorney Chasen Cohan has been outstanding from start to finish. After my mother was injured in a serious incident in Las Vegas, I reached out to Chasen personally and he took the time to hear every detail of the accident

- T.N.
"Highly recommend."
He was very informative, helpful, and knowledgeable. Everything was explained to me so that I could understand.

- S.D.
"5 stars!"
Very capable lawyer who made the process easy and got me the maximum settlement. 5 stars!

- A.A.
"I highly recommend Chasen Cohan to anyone in need of a top-tier personal injury attorney."
Choosing Chasen to represent me was one of the best decisions I made, and I am incredibly grateful for his outstanding service.

- E.N.

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Why Clients Choose Us

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At Cohan PLLC, we are committed to fighting for your rights and securing the justice you deserve.

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Results matter. We consistently secure maximum compensation, forcing insurers to pay their policy limits.
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6718 W. Sunset Rd. Suite 150
Las Vegas, NV 89118
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