Hot tubs pose a drowning risk to young children.Hotel swimming pool areas often include spas or hot tubs. Many people are unaware of just how dangerous a hot tub can be—especially for young children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to drowning in hot tubs. Not all drowning incidents result in death, but those who do survive can suffer from serious brain injuries because of a lack of oxygen.

If your child is injured because of a drowning or near-drowning incident at a hotel hot tub, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. In Texas, you have only two years from the date of the injury to file a wrongful death or personal injury case.

The Dangers of Hotel Hot Tubs

Hotel hot tubs and spas often are an overlooked drowning danger for children. Often hotel hot tubs, which can be above or below ground, lack security features such as fencing and gates. Pool areas at hotels are often not manned by lifeguards. Drowning can result from unintentional falls into the water. 

Another way drowning can happen is that children can be sucked into the drain of the hot tub and held under water. Hot tub drains or jets can entangle a child’s hair, body parts, or a strap from a swimsuit. Drains are supposed to be covered, but when parts are broken or missing, there is no barrier to prevent people from being held to the bottom of a hot tub by the suction generated from the drain. They can become trapped, with no way to extricate themselves. 

Children are especially vulnerable. Because of their smaller size, they can be pulled under more easily. If there is no lifeguard to turn off the hot tub jets or if the pump cutoff switch is not clearly marked, the results can be fatal.

The hot tub temperature can also be hazardous. High temperatures can cause drowsiness, leading to unconsciousness and accidental drowning.

What a Catastrophic Injury Attorney Can Do for You

After your child is tragically injured or died in a hotel hot tub, the last thing parents want to think about is filing a legal claim. But parents should be able to recover damages for their child’s injuries. Hotel owners will defend themselves and try to avoid accepting any liability for hot tub or pool accidents and drownings. If they do agree to a payout, they will attempt to pay as little as possible.

Facing the challenges of bringing a claim against a hotel and its legal team can be intimidating. Working with an experienced drowning accident attorney can help you gather evidence to strengthen your case, file your claim in a timely manner, and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Compensation You Could Recover After a Drowning Accident

After a hotel drowning accident, you may be able to seek compensation from the business as part of a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

  • Costs of medical treatment. If your child required medical care for a drowning or near-drowning accident, then you may be able to receive compensation for an emergency room visit, hospital costs, and other medical treatment.
  • Rehabilitation. If your child survived a near-drowning experience, they could be left with severe injuries. You might be able to recover expenses for physical therapy and other treatments.
  • Pain and suffering. This can be for the victim, or for the family members if the victim is deceased.
  • Funeral and burial expenses. These can also be covered if the victim is deceased.

Contact The Button Law Firm

If your child was injured or killed in a hotel hot tub drowning or near drowning, call The Button Law Firm. It’s crucial that you act quickly after the accident so the two-year statute of limitations does not run out before you make a claim against the hotel. Contact us today to make an appointment for a consultation.