The city of Waukegan, Illinois serves as the county seat for the residents and business owners of Lake County. With a population of nearly 90,000 and a land mass of almost 24 square miles, Waukegan is one of the largest cities in the state. The top employers in Waukegan include Lake County, Cardinal Health, Vista Health System, Uline Shippers and Medline Industries, a healthcare supply corporation.
Waukegan residents can travel in and out of the city by air at the Waukegan Regional Airport along with nearby Chicago O’Hare Airport and Chicago Midway Airport. Motorists can take state Route 41 and I-94 southward into the Chicago Metropolitan area.
Unfortunately, drowning in community centers and backyard pools are a serious problem in the Waukegan area. As a result, many families who have lost a loved one through a drowning will hire a personal injury attorney who specializes in premise liability claims to obtain compensation.
Hiring a Waukegan Personal Injury Attorney
Every drowning can be prevented. However, every year children and adults are victims a swimming pool drowning that either ends in a loss of life, or the victim suffers catastrophic injuries from the lack of oxygen (hypoxia) or blunt force trauma. Sadly, negligence is often a primary factor of a drowning in a backyard pool or a community center. Obviously, because of the cold winter months in Illinois, most drowning accidents happen during warmer seasonal months of the year.
Typically, a drowning is the result of a lack of supervision when younger children are in or around a pool. When older adults are the victims of a drowning, drugs and alcohol are sometimes involved. Because of impaired judgment, the drowning victim often loses their balance or coordination, breaking their neck or being knocked unconscious when hitting the side or the bottom of the pool.
Seeking compensation through a premises liability claim can be complex and often requires the skills of an experienced personal injury attorney who specializes in drowning liability cases.
A Premises Liability Claim
There is often premises liability when the victim dies or is injured in a drowning accident at a public location, commercial enterprise or in a homeowner’s backyard. This is because property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure a safe environment at and in the swimming pool around-the-clock every day. When the pool is left unattended, it must be properly secured such as locking an installed gate and fence.
When the property owner is negligent and someone drowns in the pool, they can be held financially responsible through a premises liability claim or lawsuit. A personal injury attorney can help families see compensation for the death of a loved one who was killed in a drowning accident or for victims injured in a pool. Surviving family members and victims can seek financial compensation to pay for a variety of expenses including:
- Medical bills and hospitalization
- Lost wages due to injury or death
- The loss of any future potential earnings
- The cost of any future medical expenses including rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Mental anxiety, emotional distress, pain and suffering
- Costs associated with permanent or temporary disability
- Funeral and burial costs associated with a wrongful death
Chicago Injury Center
Families and victims seeking more information can find valuable resources on obtaining compensation through the Chicago Injury Center website. Contact the center at to schedule an initial, free no obligation consultation with Waukegan personal injury lawyers.
A skilled attorney can provide numerous options to hold those legally liable accountable for their neglect. Through legal representation, you can be assured of receiving adequate recompense for your injuries and damages.