Types of Swimming Pool Accidents
When you think of swimming pool accidents, you likely think about drownings. While drownings can and do occur at private and public swimming pools, there are other types of injuries, too, such as:
- Near drowning
- Entrapment drowning
- Slip and fall accidents
- Diving board accidents
- Pool chemical exposure
- Electrical accidents
Causes of Swimming Pool Accidents
Swimming pool accidents are often caused by negligence. Negligence refers to a breach in the duty of care people owe to each other. For example, if you have a swimming pool in your backyard and invite friends and family over for a swim, you owe them a certain standard of care.
The same is true of property owners. Those who own apartment complexes, hotels, or private pools are required to ensure that their pools are reasonably safe. Some common causes of swimming pool accidents that involve negligence include:
- Defective products
- Lack of safety markings
- Poor water clarity
- Improperly stored chemicals
- Overcrowding
- Lack of safety features
- Lack of lifeguard
- Poor lighting
- Improper maintenance
Associated Injuries
Swimming pool accidents can range from mild to severe. Unfortunately, in some circumstances, they may even cause fatality. Fatality may occur on-site or later on because of complications. No matter the injury, Osborne & Francis will work hard to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve for your family.
Common swimming pool accidents include:
Potential Liable Parties
Swimming pool injuries fall under the umbrella of premises liability law. The owner of the pool has a duty to provide a reasonably safe space. This can include family members and friends with a pool in their background, hotel owners, apartment complex managers, universities, and more.
You may also be able to file a lawsuit against the following parties for your child’s injury:
- Manufacturers (in the case of a defective product)
- School officials or other childcare supervisors (in the case of negligent supervision)
Depending on how the accident occurred and where we’ll be able to advise you on the proper route to follow.
Steps to Take if Your Child is Injured at the Pool
If your child has been injured at a pool, it’s important to take action immediately. Here are the steps you should take immediately following their injury.
- Call 911 if your child is unresponsive or seriously injured. If they are responsive and can be moved, take them to the emergency room or hospital as soon as you leave the scene of the accident.
- If you can, take pictures of the scene of the accident and anything you may believe contributed to their injury. If they fell on loose stairs, capture that. If they harmed themselves because of improperly stored chemicals, document that. There’s no such thing as taking too many pictures.
- Get the information of the property owner if you don’t already have it.
- Once you gather this information, leave and go immediately to the emergency room or hospital. Once your child has been evaluated, contact an attorney.
It’s vital that you contact an attorney before you speak with anyone or their insurance company. Insurance adjusters will attempt to get you to settle early and for little money. By contacting an attorney, you can prevent early damage to your case.
Damages You Can Recover on Your Child’s Behalf
After your child is injured, you may be stressed about medical debt, lost wages, and other expenses you’ve incurred as a result. Osborne & Francis are here to ensure that you get full and fair compensation to cover these losses.
You can receive compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
Medical expenses:
Lost wages for days off to care for your child
Lost earning capacity, in the case that your child may not be able to work in the future
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Permanent disfigurement and scarring
.png){kind=logo}
.webp)
