Scuba Diving Accident Attorney Advice
Experience With Scuba Diving Drownings
John O’Connell represents victims of scuba diving accidents in Hawaii and Florida. While he has concentrated his representation to victims of maritime incidents and accidents in Florida and Hawaii he has represented those from other states and countries that have been injured while vacationing in Hawaii. He has been scuba diving since 1978. He got involved in litigating scuba diving cases in 1991 when a newly married couple from Massachusetts went to Hawaii for their honeymoon and the husband died while taking an alleged introductory PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience. Since then he has worked on numerous scuba diving and rebreather accident cases in Florida, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, California and New Hampshire. He has litigated maritime claims of crew members and scuba workers.
Based on his experience he has put together a checklist of What to do if a SCUBA incident has occurred.
Most recently in 2017 he was trial counsel in a case brought by the family of a man who drowned in Maui, Hawaii in a snorkeling excursion when bad weather confronted the snorkelers with 12 foot seas. In 2016 he was counsel in a scuba diving death case in Hawai’i and ultimately recovered over 2.2 million dollars for his client. The Court Order re Hambrook in this case reviews the legal basis for liability of boat operators on scuba cases to train personnel, have and implement emergency action plans, properly resuscitate drowning victims, carry and train personnel in the use of emergency oxygen and select appropriate dive sites in view of the experience level of divers in their group.
One past client has said:
After almost two years of struggling with the untimely and unnecessary death of my husband and father of my children in a scuba diving accident off the Kona, HI coast I met John O’Connell of Lee, Myers & O’Connell, LLP.
John worked tirelessly to understand our case and the many factors that would impact the outcome of our lawsuit with a clear goal to achieve the highest results possible for our family. This included seeking to understand all aspects of the events that lead to my husband’s death through comprehensive research and in depth preparation for completion of depositions, court filings and tireless work to present and make our case during trial. Work on our case required extensive travel over long distances and multiple time zones all the while remaining accessible and responsive to conferences and updates to me and our family. I came to respect and trust John both professionally and personally.
John provided individual insight and expertise on all matters, and listened to the perspective of everyone involved in the case incorporating, sharing, expanding or refuting defense ideas and information expertly.
The loss of a loved one suddenly and unnecessarily is devastating, exposing that pain, and treasured memories, and maintaining composure during depositions and trials is difficult, to say the least. John took care not only to protect and guide our family through the process but also to fiercely protect our interests and get the best trial result possible and Aurora’s scuba accident attorney was successful.
John O’Connell is honest, compassionate, and dedicated to his clients. He has built a strong bond of trust and friendship with our family, one that we will always value and be grateful for.
S.H.