There’s a special pang of anxiety that the sight of a pool causes in the hearts of parents with small children. And with good reason, since there are countless stories of children drowning or being severely injured around them. One Ohio family experienced this nightmare last year when their four-year-old little girl drowned at a South Carolina resort. Now, the family is suing the resort pool for wrongful death.
A Drowning, a Birthday, and a Tragic Loss
Lierra Stevenson was four years old when she and her family visited North Beach Plantation in North Myrtle Beach, SC. At some point, Lierra was pulled from the pool, unresponsive. When emergency personnel arrived, bystanders were performing CPR. Despite these efforts and the use of an external defibrillator by North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue, the girl was still unresponsive and was rushed to a hospital. She remained on life support and even turned five while in the hospital, but sadly passed away after 11 days.
Resort and Caretakers Negligent
Sierra Coleman, Lierra’s mother, filed the lawsuit which lists North Beach Towers Homeowners’ Association, Felicia Dinkins, and Sanlis Caminero as defendants. According to the complaint, Dinkins and Caminero were caring for Lierra at the time of her drowning. Coleman claims that North Beach was negligent because there was no life guard on duty at the time of the incident, they created unsafe conditions, failed to maintain the pool or warn people of unreasonable risks, and didn’t have life-saving equipment nearby.
In terms of Dinkins and Caminero, the suit doesn’t name their relationship to Lierra. However, it does say that they were reckless and negligent for not supervising the little girl and for failing to properly train employees.
While pools offer plenty of fun and relaxation, they’re also a huge source of injuries. If you or a loved one suffered injuries while at the pool, the pool’s owner may be liable. Speak with an attorney to discuss your case and whether you should move forward and take legal action.
Related Resources:
- Find Personal Injury Lawyers in Your Area (FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory)
- Swimming Pool Injuries (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law)
- Who Is Liable for Drowning and Accidents in Private Pools? (FindLaw’s Injured)
- Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Golf Course After Man Killed by Falling Tree (FindLaw’s Injured)
