Swimming Pool Accidents Hundreds of Millions Recovered

Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer in Jacksonville

Board Certified Trial Attorneys Fighting for Pool Accident Victims in Florida

Swimming pool accidents fall under premises liability law, meaning an injured person’s right to recover depends on proving that a property owner failed their duty of care. At Edwards & Ragatz, P.A., we’ve represented Jacksonville, Florida, families in premises liability cases since 2009. Thomas S. Edwards Jr., a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, and Eric C. Ragatz, AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, lead a team with more than 150 years of combined trial experience.

Pool and drowning claims often involve competing medical evidence, aggressive property-owner defenses, and multiple potentially liable parties. Our attorneys include former prosecutors and insurance defense lawyers who know how the other side builds its case.

If you or a family member was injured at a pool in the Jacksonville area, call us for a free consultation at (904) 295-1050.

Types of Pool Accidents We Handle

Pool accidents take many forms, and the injuries they cause range from serious to catastrophic. We represent victims across private residential pools, apartment and condominium community pools, hotel and resort pools, and public facilities throughout Duval County.

Drowning and near-drowning: Oxygen deprivation can cause a hypoxic brain injury, with consequences ranging from cognitive impairment to permanent disability.
Diving injuries: Entering shallow water headfirst can fracture cervical vertebrae and cause paralysis.
Slip-and-falls on pool decks: Water accumulation on decking creates slick surfaces that routinely cause fractures, head trauma, and soft-tissue injuries.
Drain entrapment: Malfunctioning or uncovered drains generate dangerous suction that can trap a swimmer underwater.
Chemical exposure: Improperly handled pool chemicals can burn skin, eyes, and airways, sometimes causing lasting respiratory damage.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Pool Accident in Jacksonville

Liability in a pool accident case doesn’t always fall on one party. Depending on where and how the accident happened, multiple parties may share responsibility.

Private and commercial property owners: Homeowners and commercial operators who fail to provide adequate fencing, covers, or supervision can be held liable for resulting injuries.
Lifeguards and pool staff: A lifeguard or event organizer who fails to monitor swimmers or enforce safety rules may bear personal liability.
Pool maintenance companies: A contractor responsible for equipment upkeep or water chemistry can be liable when negligent maintenance contributes to an injury.
Government entities: Public pools operated by government agencies can be sued for negligence, though Florida law caps recovery against government defendants at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident absent a legislative claim bill approved by the Florida Legislature.

Florida Fault Rules & Filing Deadlines

Two legal rules shape every pool accident claim in Florida. First, Florida uses a modified comparative negligence standard. If a court finds you more than 50 percent at fault for your own injuries, you can’t recover damages. If your share of fault is 50 percent or less, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. Defense attorneys frequently argue the victim contributed to the accident, which is one reason building a thorough factual record matters from the outset.

Second, Florida’s statute of limitations gives most personal injury claimants two years from the date of the accident to file suit. Missing that deadline generally bars the claim entirely. If you’re unsure where your situation stands, now is the time to find out.

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Trial Results & Recognition

Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients in verdicts and settlements. That record includes a $228 million judgment, one of the largest in Florida history, and a $178 million medical malpractice verdict that ranked as the fourth largest in the country that year. These results reflect serious trial capability across complex, high-stakes injury and wrongful death cases. Past results don’t predict future outcomes, but they do reflect what our attorneys bring to the table when a case goes to trial.

Edwards & Ragatz, P.A. is recognized by Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, TopVerdict.com, and The National Law Journal.

View All Results

Record-Setting $228 Million Personal Injury
Edwards & Ragatz obtained one of the largest injury judgments in Florida's history.
Record-Setting $178 Million Medical Malpractice
Edwards & Ragatz obtained a $178 Million verdict on behalf of a client who was injured due to medical malpractice.
$23 Million Hospital Negligence
Edwards & Ragatz obtained $23 Million in a medical malpractice case against a hospital that caused catastrophic injuries to their client.
$11 Million Brain Damage
Edwards & Ragatz obtained $11 Million on behalf of a baby who suffered brain damage due to hospital negligence.
$11 Million Negligent Security
Edwards & Ragatz obtained an $11 Million result against an Apartment Complex due to negligent security.

What a Pool Accident Claim Requires

To recover compensation, a pool accident victim must prove four elements: the property owner owed a duty of care, the owner breached that duty, the breach caused the accident, and the victim suffered measurable damages. Meeting that standard often requires reconstructing the incident, documenting safety code violations, and presenting medical evidence connecting the injury to the event. Which Florida rules apply to your claim shapes what that work looks like in practice.

Florida Pool Safety Law & Property Owner Duties

Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, codified at Chapter 515 of the Florida Statutes, requires new residential pools to include at least one approved safety feature. A compliant pool barrier must stand at least four feet high on the outside and have no gaps or openings wide enough for a young child to pass through. Gates providing pool access must open away from the water and be both self-closing and self-latching. Owners who fall short of these requirements can face greater liability exposure when an accident occurs.

Florida’s attractive nuisance doctrine adds another layer of liability in child drowning cases. Under this doctrine, a property owner can be held responsible for injuries to a child who accessed a pool without permission if the owner didn’t take reasonable steps to prevent that access. A broken latch, a missing barrier, or an unsecured gate can support a viable claim.

How We Approach Pool Accident Cases

Pool and drowning claims routinely involve disputes over causation and property owner fault. Several of our attorneys spent time on the other side, working as prosecutors or representing insurance companies in civil defense. That experience tells us where opposing counsel may look for leverage and how to counter it.

We also work with a network of medical, economic, and investigative professionals who help us document injuries, reconstruct accidents, and build evidence that holds up at trial. When a hypoxic brain injury, a spinal fracture, or a chemical exposure requires expert input, we have those relationships in place.

Our team meets clients on their schedule, including evenings and weekends, and we stay reachable by phone, text, and email throughout your case.

Talk to Our Jacksonville, FL Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer Today

A free consultation with Edwards & Ragatz, P.A. costs nothing and gives you an honest assessment of your claim. Pool accident cases move quickly once evidence starts to disappear, so early review can help preserve important facts and records.

Call our swimming pool accident attorneys today at (904) 295-1050 to get started.

We Are Edwards & Ragatz

Explore What Sets Us Apart

Innovative & Strategic Legal Strategies

At Edwards & Ragatz, P.A., we offer custom legal strategies tailored to your situation. Our approach ensures that we collect higher settlements than what an insurance adjuster might offer.
Committed to Quality Legal Counsel
Our commitment to a compassionate legal process means we speak with you on-site at the accident location, offer flexible meeting times, manage paperwork on your behalf, and provide consistent updates.
Proven Legal Experience & Advocacy

With more than 150+ years of combined legal experience, we have taken on multiple million-dollar corporations and received recoveries through the relentless pursuit of justice.

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