Where Drownings Happen in Dallas—& Why
Dallas and Dallas County see drownings in public pools and aquatic centers, apartment and community pools, lakes and rivers, hotel and resort pools, and water parks. Drowning risks typically climb with heat and crowds (typically in late spring through summer) and are not limited to kids—teens and adults are regularly involved, especially in open water. Nationally, the CDC reported over 4,500 drowning deaths each year from 2020–2022, roughly 500 more per year than in 2019. While children 1–4 remained at the highest risk, increases were also seen among older adults.
Based on the location, some of the most prevalent contexts and contributing factors include:
Community & Public Pools:
Backyard pools in residential areas are a well-known danger, particularly to toddlers, but drownings may also happen at community pools, apartment complex pools, and public aquatic centers in the Dallas area. At these locations, incidents typically involve inadequate supervision or safety measures. Contributing causes in pool drownings may include a lack of barriers (unfenced pools or gates left open/unlocked) and absent, distracted, or poorly trained lifeguards. It only takes a moment of distraction for a child to drown, and these tragedies are often described as “silent."
Lakes & Rivers:
North Texas has numerous lakes (Lewisville Lake, Ray Hubbard, Joe Pool Lake, Lake Lavon, and others) and the Trinity River running through Dallas. These natural bodies of water are also the site of drowning and near-drowning incidents. According to one study, 40% of drowning deaths in Texas occur in open and natural bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Common factors in lake and river drownings include sudden drop-offs in swimming areas, strong currents, and a lack of personal flotation devices. Boating accidents such as collisions or capsizes may also be a factor.
Water Parks & Resorts:
Water parks and hotel or resort pools in the Dallas area are popular attractions, but even when these facilities allegedly have supervisory practices in place, drowning deaths may occur. In 2023, a four-year-old boy drowned at the Splashville water park in Stepenville, north of Dallas. Another incident involved a 13-year-old student from Dallas who drowned in a hotel pool during a school trip. Common factors in water park and resort drownings include crowded water attractions, inadequate supervision, lack of proper signage or fences, and faulty drains or pool equipment.
Drowning & Near-Drowning Accidents Are Preventable
No matter the setting or circumstances, one thing remains true about drowning incidents: they are preventable. As local drowning injury lawyers in Dallas, we know what to look for in terms of negligence or wrongdoing so we can hold at-fault property owners or other parties accountable.
We take on drowning cases in Dallas involving causes such as:
- Lifeguard negligence
- Lack of adequate supervision
- Faulty pool drains, pumps, and electrical systems
- Lack of proper fencing/barriers
- Defective pool fencing
- Lack of signage at pools or open water
- Poorly maintained pool equipment
Particularly when children are involved, the principle of attractive nuisance may apply. This means that Dallas property owners have a responsibility to address water-related hazards that may attract children who have not been explicitly invited to their property—or who have even entered without their knowledge.
After a Drowning or Pool Accident in Dallas: Emergency Response & What Comes Next
Acting quickly and calmly after a drowning or pool accident can make a significant difference for victims and families.
If you are at the scene of a drowning or near-drowning incident:
- Check the water first if a child is missing near a pool or open water. Every second matters.
- Call 911 and begin CPR (if you are trained to do so) immediately if the person is not breathing.
- Use or throw a flotation device (ring buoy, life jacket) instead of entering dangerous water.
Emergency response teams in Dallas will typically arrive within minutes in populated areas, so defer to their guidance once they are on scene. If the victim is not transported from the scene by ambulance for treatment, follow up at the nearest hospital or trauma center for a full evaluation.
As the family member or loved one of a drowning victim in Dallas, you can take additional steps to preserve your right to hold any and all at-fault parties accountable. This includes documenting the accident location, gathering contact information from any witnesses present, and taking photos if possible. Broken gates, lack of signage, or missing safety equipment at the pool may all be helpful in determining and proving liability.
Do not wait to involve an attorney who can take further steps to preserve the scene and advocate for your loved one's care and interests. As local personal injury attorneys in Dallas, we know how city ordinances apply. As nationally recognized trial lawyers, we know how to deal with large corporations and insurance providers who will do everything in their power to minimize their liability.
We stand up for drowning victims and their families in Dallas to make their voices heard.
Nonfatal Drowning Injuries
Swimming pool and other water-related accidents in Dallas are not always fatal. Near-drownings can cause serious injuries that affect a victim and family in many ways, often far worse than other types of accidents. According to the CDC, half of all near-drowning victims who receive emergency treatment require hospitalization, compared to only 6% of people hospitalized for all unintentional injuries in the United States.
Many survivors of nonfatal drownings in Dallas face lifelong medical challenges. These can include ongoing cognitive therapy, rehabilitative care, and assisted living needs. Local hospitals like Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Baylor University Medical Center, and rehabilitation clinics will often play a critical role in treatment and recovery, but the financial burden from extended hospital stays and therapy quickly adds up, leaving families worried about how to cover long-term costs. Our Dallas drowning accident attorneys guide families through these challenges.
The consequences of near-drowning can include:
- Brain damage
- Memory problems
- Learning disabilities
- Permanent loss of basic functioning (permanent vegetative state)
Determining Liability in a Dallas Drowning Accident
When a drowning or near-drowning occurs, it’s rarely a simple accident. Someone’s failure to follow safety laws, maintain equipment, or provide adequate supervision often plays a role—and that failure can mean legal responsibility. At Arnold & Itkin, our Dallas team investigates every factor to determine who is accountable and why a tragedy occurred. Whether it happened at a public pool, apartment complex, hotel, water park, or lake managed by local authorities, we know what evidence to look for and how to hold negligent parties accountable.
Our team begins by reviewing local and state safety requirements—including Dallas County pool regulations, city ordinances, and state health codes that govern fencing, drain systems, lifeguard staffing, and emergency procedures. We also examine premises liability and negligence standards under Texas law, which require property owners and operators to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. When those steps aren’t taken—like failing to maintain a locked pool gate, ignoring lifeguard coverage rules, or neglecting to repair safety equipment—they can and should be held liable.
We often uncover liability in cases involving:
- Apartment and hotel owners who fail to provide proper barriers, safety signage, or emergency rescue gear.
- Water park operators that understaff lifeguards or allow overcrowding in pools and wave pools.
- Municipal or county agencies that fail to monitor public swim areas or maintain warning signs in hazardous zones.
- Product manufacturers whose defective drains, pumps, or flotation devices contributed to a drowning.
- Employers and contractors responsible for worker drownings on job sites or near industrial water hazards.
Every detail matters—from surveillance footage and maintenance records to witness testimony and inspection logs. Our Dallas drowning attorneys work with accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, and aquatic safety consultants to expose the chain of failures that led to our client’s injury or loss.
When we take on a Dallas drowning case, we make sure no one hides behind bureaucracy, corporate insurance, or red tape. Families deserve answers, accountability, and the means to rebuild. At Arnold & Itkin, we uncover the truth and demand justice for those who’ve suffered the unimaginable.
The parties that should have protected your loved one must be held accountable. Our team demands the answers our clients deserve, no matter what. Call (888) 493-1629 to learn more.
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