Walk-In Tub Accident Lawyers.
Finding out what went wrong when a walk-in tub injures or kills someone you love.
When someone you love is hurt or killed in a walk-in tub, the first question is why. Our attorneys find out what went wrong and who is responsible.
We look at the tub, its installation and repair records, the medical records and what witnesses saw. You don’t need to know the cause before you call us. No win, no fee.
Find Out What Went Wrong.
A serious walk-in tub injury raises questions the manual can’t answer. Why couldn’t your parent get out? Did the drain work? Was the door installed right? Was it the tub, the installation or something else?
When you contact us, our investigation typically covers:
- The tub itself, its model number and the manual that came with it
- Installation photos, work orders and repair records
- Emergency, medical and, after a death, medical examiner records
- What witnesses saw, including where the person was found and the water level
- Which manufacturers, sellers, installers or property owners had a duty to the bather
Then we tell you whether there is a claim and who may be responsible. Read who can be responsible for a walk-in tub injury or use our walk-in tub accident checklist.
Drain First, Then the Door.
A walk-in tub has a door built into its wall. You step in, sit on a raised seat, close the door and fill the tub. To get out, you drain the water first and then open the door. KOHLER’s operating guide says the door will not open when the bath is filled with water.
That order matters after an injury. A bather who slides down in the seat, loses strength or can’t reach the drain control may not be able to take the next step.
Doors open one of two ways. An inward-swing door opens into the tub, and the water presses it into its seal until the tub drains. An outward-swing door opens into the bathroom and uses latches to stay closed against the water. Ella’s Bubbles, a walk-in tub maker, describes both designs and tells owners never to open either door until the tub is empty.
Drain speed depends on more than the tub. Ella’s says its drains empty an average tub in about 80 seconds under ideal conditions, and that the home’s drain piping sets the actual time (Ella’s Bubbles).
What Are the Problems With Walk-In Tubs?
Walk-in tubs make stepping in easier, but they bring risks a regular tub doesn’t. You sit inside while the tub fills and drains, the door can’t open until the water is gone, and a bather who slips may not be able to reach the controls. Sources: Ella’s Bubbles, American Tubs, Ella’s Bubbles on leveling.
Drowning and Near-Drowning
A bather slips below the water and cannot recover or get out. We look at the seat, footwell, grab bars, controls and who was nearby.
Learn More 02Trapped in the Tub
A drain that will not empty, a control out of reach or a latch that will not release can leave a bather stuck in the tub.
Learn More 03Slipping off the Seat
A bather who slides off the seat can end up low in the footwell, below the controls. With an inward-swing door, the water presses the door shut until the tub drains.
Learn More 04Waiting for the Tub to Drain
The bather stays inside until the water is gone. One maker says about 80 seconds in ideal conditions; a tub seller says standard models can take 6 to 15 minutes.
Learn More 05Falls Getting In or Out
Stepping through the doorway, standing up from the seat and a wet floor each raise different questions about what went wrong.
Learn More 06Hot-Water and Heated-Seat Burns
A scald from bath water points to the water supply and temperature controls. A burn from a heated seat or backrest points to that part.
Learn More 07Installation and Repair Errors
A tub that is not level, a drain line that cannot keep up or a bad repair can change how the door seals and how fast the tub empties.
Learn MoreGuides for Families.
Plain-English answers about walk-in tub claims and what to do next.
Can You Bring a Claim After a Walk-In Tub Injury or Death?
Who may be responsible, the three kinds of product claims and what a claim can cover.
Read the GuideWhat to Do After a Walk-In Tub Accident
A step-by-step checklist for the first days: care, notes, photos, the tub and the paperwork.
Read the GuideFlorida Walk-In Tub Accident Claims
How Florida law handles shared fault, wrongful death and product claims.
Read the GuideHow a Walk-In Tub Case Unfolds.
From the first call through resolution, here is what to expect.
Free Case Review
Tell us what happened. We’ll ask about the injury, the tub and whether it is still in the home.
Preserve the Evidence
We help make sure the tub and any removed parts aren’t thrown out or repaired before they can be examined.
Investigation
Our attorneys gather the manual, installation, service and medical records, and work with experts who can examine the tub.
Pursue Compensation
When the evidence supports a claim, we pursue it against the manufacturer, seller, installer or anyone else responsible.
Questions People Often Ask.
Answers to common questions about walk-in tub injury and death claims. If your question isn’t here, ask us during your free case review.
You may, if a defect in the tub, a careless installation or repair, or someone else’s failure to act caused or contributed to a serious injury or death. The evidence has to connect that problem to the harm. A free case review is how we find out.
Yes. You can ask about an injury or death involving a family member. If there is a claim, we will explain who has the legal authority to bring it.
They can lower one risk and add others. According to the National Council on Aging, the step-in threshold is usually about 3 inches, which helps people who struggle to step over a tub wall. The bather also sits in the tub while it fills and drains, needs to reach the controls, and cannot open the door until the water is gone.
It depends on the tub and the home’s plumbing. Ella’s Bubbles says its tubs drain in about 80 seconds under ideal conditions, or two minutes or less on a proper 2-inch drain line. American Tubs, a tub seller, says standard models can take 6 to 15 minutes, and fast-draining models four minutes or less.
No. A recall can point to a specific problem, but a claim does not depend on one. If you find a recall notice, keep it and check whether it covers your model and serial number. For example, a 2015 federal recall covered about 6,400 walk-in tubs whose heated seat could stick in the on position, limited to listed model and serial numbers.
Depending on the evidence and the state, a claim may cover medical bills, ongoing treatment, lost wages, emotional harm and future problems from the injury. A death claim can also cover funeral expenses and the family’s lost support and companionship.
Nothing up front. The case review is free, and we work on a no win, no fee basis.
Tell Us What Happened.
Every case starts with a conversation. Tell us what happened and what you know about the tub. We’ll listen, answer your questions and explain what comes next.
- Serious walk-in tub injuries and deaths.
- No win, no fee.
- Free case review.
Let’s Talk About Your Case.
No fees unless we win. Available 24/7.
Now Is the Time for Action.
Act now — your case may be time-sensitive.