Swimming pools offer countless hours of fun. However, they can also be dangerous places where drownings and other injuries could significantly alter your life or that of a loved one.
Consequently, it is important to exercise caution when visiting a public swimming pool. Staying safe means taking some simple steps like abstaining from alcohol and making sure you are properly hydrated. On the other hand, some injuries that occur at public swimming pools may be outside of your control.
Slip and fall accidents and other personal injury-related accidents are common at public swimming pools. If your child suffered injuries as a result of the pool operator’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek compensation on his or her behalf.
Speaking with a personal injury lawyer at Stewart & Stewart is your first step towards seeing justice served. We’ll discuss your child’s accident in a free, confidential consultation. In the meantime, here’s some helpful information on swimming pool accidents.
Swimming Pool Personal Injuries
Who doesn’t love a swimming pool in the heat of the summer? While public pools provide a lot of enjoyment and relaxation, they are also filled with hazards, from slippery areas to poorly maintained ladders and diving boards.
Though everyone has a responsibility to practice common sense and protect themselves, some injuries that occur at public places fall outside of your responsibility. For example, a wet floor in a swimming pool locker room that isn’t quickly cleaned up or marked by a prominent sign could cause your child to fall. This could be a premises liability case, and you could seek compensation for your child’s injuries.
Swimming pools pose many additional hazards that could lead to drowning, slip and fall accidents, and other injuries. In some instances, negligence from the organization managing the swimming pool contributes to the problem.
Those who are injured because of the negligence of another individual or organization deserve compensation for their injuries. That includes your loved ones! Personal injury claims allow victims to file a lawsuit against a public swimming pool that is negligent in protecting customers from safety hazards. As a minor, your child can’t file their own personal injury lawsuit—but you can file a claim on their behalf.
Swimming pool operators and owners must take all precautions to keep individuals safe. For starters, not having enough qualified lifeguards or staff is an example of negligence. Consequently, swimming pools must employ the correct amount of staff as well as maintain the grounds and keep them free from dangers in a reasonable amount of time.
If that is not the case, and you or your child is injured, you may file a personal injury claim and attempt to receive damages for lost time from work, medical bills, and pain and suffering.
Types of Swimming Pool Accidents
It is easy to see why so many people enjoy visiting a public swimming pool during the summer. But recreational time can quickly turn dangerous when you consider these types of swimming pool-related accidents:
- Drownings: The biggest danger when swimming is drowning. As a result, public swimming pools employ lifeguards who are trained to save people in the water.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Slip and fall accidents are extremely common at public swimming pools because these areas are often wet and slippery by nature. Regardless, it is the responsibility of the pool and its staff to maintain the grounds and warn patrons of potential slip and fall hazards.
- Improper Maintenance: Public swimming pools must follow certain guidelines. For example, swimming pools in Bloomington must be surrounded by a fence at least six feet tall. Failing to provide these safety features or not maintaining the grounds can be considered negligence, which makes the pool operator liable for your child’s injuries.
- Defective Pool Drains: Pool drains are another contributor to many swimming pool-related lawsuits. The pool needs to properly cover drains to prevent children from getting trapped or stuck in them.
Steps to Pursue a Personal Injury Swimming Pool Lawsuit
Drowning, slip and fall incidents, and other swimming pool-related accidents contribute to severe injuries and deaths each year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 3,500 drownings have occurred in the United States over the last decade.
If you or your child is injured at a public swimming pool, make sure that you do the following:
- Identify what or who caused the injury. The first step is to determine how you were injured and find out if anyone is liable for the injuries. If so, you may be able to pursue damages via a personal injury lawsuit.
- Swimming pools are sometimes managed by a government entity that may require you to file a government tort claim before you can file a lawsuit. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer can assist you with this process.
- Contact a personal injury attorney. These lawyers are experts in filing personal injury claims and can represent you.
Seek Justice for Your Child’s Injuries Today
You are entitled to compensation for you or your child’s injuries. Working with Stewart & Stewart to file a personal injury claim enables you to pursue compensation for missed time from work, medical bills, emotional damages, and more. You’re not alone—contact us to learn more about how we can help.