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Swimming Pool Accidents
Our Accident Attorneys Fight to Recover Compensation After a Swimming Pool Accident
Trusted advocacy in your time of need
Florida residents are quite familiar with the pleasures of a cool dip in a swimming pool on a hot, humid day. Many Florida homeowners enjoy an in-ground or above-ground swimming pool in their own back yards. With the right security features and safety standards, swimming and water play can be the fun and invigorating recreational activity it is meant to be. However, without proper attention to the potential hazards and adherence to Florida law, tragedy can strike, quickly resulting in permanent disability or death. Children are at particular risk, and a non-fatal submersion mishap frequently leads to brain damage, which can impair the child’s cognitive functioning for life. If your child or other loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, we understand the anguish you are experiencing and the challenges you face. At Osborne & Francis Law Firm PLLC, our experienced injury attorneys fight vigorously to obtain maximum compensation for your damages. We are with you every step of the way.
Video Transcript
So you've been in a car accident. What happens next? There are many things that you should do but here are the three most important:
Number One: See a doctor immediately.
A broken bone is easy to see, but some injuries are not. The most common injuries from car accidents happen in the neck, back, or head. The only way to diagnose and treat them is by seeing a doctor. A doctor can help ease the pain, provide medication, reassure you of how your injury may impact your daily life, and tell you what not to do to make it worse.
A visit to the doctor can also give you legally protected time off to recover and rest your body after an accident, and it documents and provides the evidence you may need for your case. Even a five-mile-per-hour car accident can cause a serious injury. So whether you've had a severe accident or a minor collision, see a doctor. And if you don't have medical insurance, let us know and we'll make sure that you receive the proper care.
Number Two: Write everything down.
Even if it seems small, during times of stress or injury it is common to forget the little details. Make sure you keep note of the pain that you're in. With neck, back, and head injuries, sometimes simple activities such as walking up the stairs or picking up a toddler may cause severe pain.
You may not be sleeping well at night. Documenting how much you sleep and how often you wake up due to pain is also very important. And lastly, if you have any cuts or bruises, take daily photos as you heal. This will provide visual evidence of the injuries that you've suffered.
Number Three: Do not speak to an insurance company until you've spoken to a lawyer.
Please understand that the insurance adjuster works for a billion-dollar corporation and not for you. Their interests are solely for their insurance company, and their goal is to provide you with the least amount of financial settlement as quickly as possible. When you do speak with them, remember they will record the conversation. Why do they do this? Because they've been trained to ask questions that may confuse you. So talk to us before you talk to them.
So remember: See a doctor, document everything, and call us before calling the insurance company for your free private consultation. We are here for you. Real tough lawyers fighting real tough issues.
Alarming facts about swimming pool accidents
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regularly compiles data about swimming pool and spa submersion accidents. The following information highlights the risks posed by swimming pools throughout the U.S.:
- We lose 9 people every day to drowning fatalities.
- In drowning deaths of children, 19 percent occur in public swimming pools where certified lifeguards are posted.
- On average, 15 people are hospitalized each day for submersion/drowning accidents. Annually, about 5,400 of these victims are children under the age of 15 years. Twenty percent experience a permanent neurological disability, while 15 percent of these drowning injuries lead to death.
- Children between the ages of 1 and 4 years are of particular risk of drowning, as it is the number one cause of injury-related accidental death in this age group. Most of these submersion accidents occur in home swimming pools, and portable pools represent 11 percent of all pool drownings in this group.
- Drowning is also a grave danger to those between 1 and 14 years of age, coming in second as a leading cause of injury-related accidental death for these children.
- Between 2013 and 2017, 45 percent of all reported circulation entrapment accidents occurred in public swimming pools or spas, while 55% occurred in residential locations. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that nearly 20% of these incidents resulted in death.
Common swimming pool accident causes
One of the great tragedies regarding swimming pool accidents is that they are largely preventable nature. In most cases, adequate supervision, basic barriers or even swimming lessons can prevent a swimming pool accident and the resulting injuries. Common causes of swimming pool incidents include:
- Inadequate or non-existent fencing/barriers – Appropriate barriers that isolate a swimming pool on all four sides have been shown to decrease submersion accident injuries by 50 to 90 percent.
- Failure to supervise – In close to 90 percent of drowning deaths in children, a caregiver or parent claimed to be watching the victim.
- Inability to swim – The risk of drowning can be reduced by nearly 90% among young children between 1 and 4 by participating in formal swimming lessons.
- Inadequate safety features – In addition to 4-sided fences, door alarms, gates and pool covers can greatly reduce the number of pool-related injuries and deaths. Most children found submerged in a residential swimming pool weren’t even expected to be near the pool and were only missing for about five minutes.
- Faulty or malfunctioning swimming pool equipment – The damage caused by entrapment in a drain or circulation pump can be particularly devastating.
J. Davis
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“I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer/ firm — everything was done professionally exactly how I wanted. Due to COVID my personal attorney Mr. Garcia was still able to make things work in a timely manner and he never made me feel like he wasn’t working. Overall I’m happy with how my case turned out and I would recommend him and this law firm to anyone. 100% satisfied.”
Erica F.
"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"
T. Andrews
“Attorneys Greg Francis and Ryan Fletcher at Osborne & Francis Law Firm represented me in my personal injury case.The defendant drew a line in the sand and was adamant on a settlement amount I was almost willing to accept. After the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we settled for 3 times that amount!!! When they say ‘Real Tough Lawyers,’ they mean it.”
C. Smith
“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”
Alfred
Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.
E. Holland
Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!
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Contact our experienced accident injury lawyers for trusted legal representation and unwavering support if a loved one has suffered injury in a swimming pool accident
Florida swimming pool owners have a number of legal responsibilities, and homeowners owe a duty of care as well. The injury lawyers of Osborne & Francis Law Firm PLLC perform a thorough investigation and identify all negligent parties who share liability for your loved one’s swimming pool accident injury or fatality. Call (561) 293-2600 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you.
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