Myrtle Beach Drowning Lawyer Near You

Speak With an Experienced Myrtle Beach Drowning and Near-Drowning Accident Lawyer, Fighting for Victims and Families

A South Carolina Myrtle Beach drowning lawyer can help you pursue compensation after a drowning or near-drowning accident. A day at the beach or pool should never end in tragedy. Unfortunately, drowning and near-drowning accidents happen every year in Myrtle Beach at hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, public pools, private pools, water parks, and along the Atlantic coastline.

 

According to The Sun News, there were 115 drowning-related rescues along the Myrtle Beach shore in 2024, and the Surf Zone Fatalities reports that there have been 14 drowning deaths in Myrtle Beach from 2020-2026. While some drownings are unavoidable, many occur because someone failed to take reasonable steps to keep visitors safe.

 

If you or someone you love has been injured in a drowning or near-drowning accident, you may have the right to pursue financial compensation, regardless of whether the incident happened at a pool or at the ocean. An experienced Myrtle Beach drowning and near-drowning accident lawyer can investigate what happened, determine who was responsible, and fight for the compensation you deserve. At Lovely Law Firm, we help injured victims and grieving families hold negligent property owners, businesses, and other responsible parties accountable after preventable accidents throughout Myrtle Beach and South Carolina.

Common Causes of Drowning Accidents in Myrtle Beach

Every drowning case is different, but many involve preventable safety failures. Some common reasons that people may end up drowning or near-drowning in a preventable way include:

Bad Supervision

Swimming pools, water attractions, and beaches often rely on lifeguards or trained staff to monitor swimmers. There are many ways these lifeguards may be negligent in their supervision of the water, including:

 

• Lifeguards distracted by phones or conversations
• Lifeguards leaving their assigned stations
• Staff failing to respond quickly to emergencies
• Inadequate staffing levels
• Poor emergency response training

 

Just seconds of inattention can result in permanent injuries or death.

Unsafe Property Conditions

Property owners have a duty to maintain safe swimming environments. Hazards may include:

 

• Broken or unlocked pool gates
• Missing safety fences
• Defective self-closing gates
• Dangerous pool drains
• Missing rescue equipment
• Broken ladders or handrails
• Poor lighting around pools
• Slippery pool decks

 

Unsafe conditions greatly increase the risk of drowning, especially for children.

Failure to Warn About Hazards

Visitors often rely on property owners and municipalities to provide adequate warnings. Examples may include:

 

• Missing “No Lifeguard On Duty” signs
• Failure to post depth markers
• Ignoring dangerous rip current conditions
• Failure to display warning flags
• Missing warning signs about underwater hazards
• Failure to close unsafe swimming areas

 

When dangerous conditions are known—or should have been known—warnings are critical.

Dangerous Ocean Conditions

Myrtle Beach attracts millions of visitors each year, many of whom are unfamiliar with ocean swimming. While it is important to be aware of the swimming conditions for the body of water you are in the city of Myrtle Beach has lifeguards on duty to help protect vulnerable swimmers against any of the following dangerous conditions:

 

• Rip currents
• Strong undertows
• High surf
• Sudden drop-offs
• Severe weather
• Dangerous marine conditions

 

While nature cannot always be controlled, responsible parties may still be liable if they fail to warn swimmers or respond appropriately to known hazards.

Who May Be Responsible for a Drowning Accident in Myrtle Beach?

Several different parties may share responsibility depending on where the drowning incident occurred. The list of potentially liable parties is quite large and could include:

 

• Hotels and Resorts
• Condominium associations
• Vacation rental owners
• Homeowners
• Apartment complexes
• Water parks
• Private clubs
• Public parks
• Property management companies
• Swimming instructors
• Lifeguard companies
• Government entities responsible for public beaches

 

Determining liability often requires a thorough investigation conducted by an experienced Myrtle Beach near-drowning accident lawyer to get all of the facts of the case straight.

Can You Sue a Hotel for a Drowning Accident?

One of the most common questions related to drowning or near-drowning accidents we hear is, “Can you sue a hotel for a drowning accident?” In many situations, you can sue a hotel for a drowning accident. Hotels owe guests a legal duty to maintain safe premises. If they fail to provide reasonable safety measures and someone drowns or nearly drowns, they may be liable.

 

Simply because a drowning occurred on hotel property does not automatically make the hotel liable, though. There must be some element of negligence that contributed to the incident. Then the hotel may be responsible for damages.

Can You Sue the Lifeguard for a Drowning Accident at the Beach?

When swimming in the ocean, the level of danger is significantly higher due to changing wave patterns or rip currents. Many people think that a drowning at the ocean is simply a terrible accident, which leads to the question, “Can you sue the lifeguard for a drowning accident at the beach?”

 

The answer is it depends on the circumstances of the incident. If the lifeguard on duty is found to have been negligent, or the municipal employer or beach management organization did not properly train the staff or staff the area where the drowning occurred, then the lifeguard or agencies could be found liable. An experienced drowning accident attorney can determine who should be named in a lawsuit.

Can You Sue the City of Myrtle Beach for a Drowning Accident at the Beach?

In some situations, yes. Government entities can sometimes be held liable when negligence contributes to an injury or death. Examples where it might be valid to sue the City of Myrtle Beach for a drowning accident at the beach include:

 

• Failure to maintain public swimming areas
• Failure to address known dangerous conditions
• Negligent operation of public facilities
• Failure to properly warn visitors
• Dangerous conditions that were ignored

 

Claims against government agencies are often much more complicated than claims against private businesses. South Carolina law includes special procedures, notice requirements, and shorter deadlines for claims involving government entities. Missing these deadlines can prevent you from recovering compensation. If you or a loved one has been involved in a near-drowning or drowning accident that you feel involves negligence on the part of Myrtle Beach, speaking with an attorney as soon as possible is critical.

Recent Myrtle Beach Drowning Case Awards $20.73 Million in Wrongful Death Drowning Case

One of the most significant drowning-related cases in South Carolina involved the 2018 drowning death of Zerihun Wolde at Myrtle Beach. A Horry County jury awarded his family $20.73 million after finding that Lack’s Beach Service acted negligently by requiring lifeguards to perform commercial duties, such as renting beach chairs and umbrellas, while also monitoring swimmers.

 

Evidence presented at trial showed that the company had been warned for years that its “dual-role” lifeguarding system created dangerous distractions and failed to meet national lifeguarding standards. In 2025, the South Carolina Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the verdict, and the case prompted Myrtle Beach to prohibit dual-role lifeguarding practices, allowing lifeguards to focus solely on swimmer safety. Every drowning case is unique, but this landmark decision demonstrates that property owners, beach operators, and other responsible parties may be held accountable when negligence contributes to a preventable tragedy.

Near-Drowning Accidents Can Cause Lifelong Injuries

Many victims survive drowning incidents but suffer devastating long-term medical complications. Some common injuries that can occur during near-drowning accidents include:

 

• Brain Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Lung Damage
• Emotional Trauma

 

Any of these can lead to prolonged treatment or life-altering consequences for individuals.

Wrongful Death Claims After a Drowning

Sadly, many drowning accidents prove fatal. If your loved one died because of another party’s negligence, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Compensation for a wrongful death drowning accident may include:

 

• Funeral expenses
• Burial costs
• Medical bills before death
• Lost financial support
• Loss of companionship
• Mental anguish
• Other damages permitted under South Carolina law

 

While no amount of money can replace a loved one, holding negligent parties accountable can provide financial security and a sense of justice.

Speak With a Myrtle Beach Drowning Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love has been injured in a swimming accident, or if your family has lost a loved one in a preventable drowning, you should not have to face the legal process alone. An experienced Myrtle Beach drowning lawyer at the Lovely Law Firm can evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and pursue compensation from the negligent parties responsible for your losses.

 

Contact Lovely Law Firm today for a free consultation and learn how our local Myrtle Beach drowning and near-drowning accident lawyers can help you seek justice.