Category : Swimming Pool Accidents
Swimming pools can be a prime source for head, neck and spinal cord injuries. In addition to slippery pool decks and the potential for swimmers to collide with the poolside while swimming, diving boards present a particular danger for spinal cord injuries.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a swimming pool accident, it is vital to be able to recognize the signs of a spinal cord injury.
Here are some most prominent symptoms of spinal cord injury, as identified by staff at the Mayo Clinic:
Muscle spasms
- Pain in the back, or a “stinging” sensation
- Decreased or absent sensations in extremities, including a lack of response to stimuli, such as temperature changes and pain
- Problems with balance
Do you suspect that negligence may have played a part in your swimming pool accident? An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine liability and get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
When selecting a personal injury attorney you’ll want to ask critical questions such as: how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with swimming pool and diving board accident cases; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
Browse our library to get more information on swimming pool accidents.
A disregard for common pool safety measures can lead to serious and sometimes fatal swimming pool accidents, including head and spinal cord injuries or drownings.
There are special areas of concern of which responsible pool owners should all follow.
Here are a few important pool safety rules:
If water is not 9 feet or deeper, there should be no diving board
- All electrical wiring must be done by a trained pool electrician
- Water depth should be clearly marked
- Chemicals must be stored in a dry, locked area
- The water should be monitored daily for harmful bacteria or improper chemical balance
- All ladders and stairs should be in good repair
A disregard of any of these pool safety measures greatly increases the risk for serious swimming pool accidents. It would also signify a serious negligence on the part of the pool owner.
If a personal injury attorney can prove that negligence played a role in your accident case, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries.
When selecting a personal injury attorney you’ll want to ask critical questions such as: how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with swimming pool and diving board accident cases; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
Visit our library to learn more about swimming pool safety.
The risk of accidental drowning is always of concern when children are in swimming pools. Even in a near-drowning, the victim of the swimming accident can suffer lifelong disabilities and injury.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there were more than 3,500 drownings in 2005.
Here are some potential complications with near-drownings:
Irreversible brain damage
- Disability
- Cognitive issues, such as memory loss
- Persistent vegetative state
If your child drowned in a swimming pool due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
When selecting a wrongful death or personal injury attorney, you’ll want to ask critical questions such as: how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with swimming pool accidents and swimming pool drowning cases; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
Visit our library to get more information on the risks associated with swimming pool accidents.
The summer of 2009 has brought numerous news reports of children drowning in public and residential swimming pools. This highlights the continued need for adult supervision and attention to pool safety standards.
Here are a few news accounts from July 2009:
- A 6-year-old Texas boy drowned in a New Jersey relative’s pool. He was fully clothed when pulled from the pool and apparently had fallen into the water by accident.
- Zavier Smothers, 4, drowned in a Las Vegas apartment pool, after the adults who were supervising a family pool party became distracted from watching the children in the water.
- A 3-year-old Staten Island boy drowned July 19, 2009, in his family’s pool during a well-attended pool party.
The tragic news stories illustrate how vital it is for adults to provide constant and attentive supervision of children in swimming pools to prevent child drownings.
If your child drowned in a swimming pool due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
When selecting a wrongful death or personal injury attorney, you’ll want to ask critical questions such as: how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with swimming pool accidents and swimming pool drowning cases; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
Browse our library to learn more about child drowning accidents.
Whether participating in competitive diving or simply enjoying a day at the local public pool, children who use swimming pool diving boards are at risk for serious and life-altering head, neck and spinal cord injuries.
The Pediatrics journal of medicine recently published a study about the risks of diving board accidents to teens and children.
They found that kids ages 10 to 14 are most at risk to suffer from diving injuries, accounting for nearly 40% of all diving board accident victims. In addition, the face, neck and head are the most susceptible areas for injury, making up roughly 60% of swimming pool diving injuries.
Do you suspect that negligence may have played a part in your child’s swimming pool diving accident? An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine liability and get your child the compensation they deserve for their injuries.
When selecting a personal injury attorney you’ll want to ask critical questions such as: how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with swimming pool and diving board accident cases; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
Visit our library to learn more about diving board accidents.
The tragic death of 6-year-old Abigail Taylor in 2008 from injuries sustained in a poorly designed public wading pool called attention to the need for new federal safety regulations for pool safety.
Taylor’s harrowing ordeal began when she accidentally sat on an open pool drain. The force of the suction disemboweled the girl, who suffered significant injuries from the swimming pool accident. She died nine months after the accident as a result of complications from her injuries.
New federal legislation, enacted after Taylor’s death, includes the following safety requirements for public pools:
- Drainage systems must be designed to prevent suction from blockage
- Daily inspections of drains and grates to ensure there are no open drains
- Pools that don’t have adequate suction outlets must be retrofitted to meet new standards
If you, or a loved one, have sustained serious injuries or death as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should contact a personal injury attorney right away!
When selecting a personal injury attorney you’ll want to ask critical questions such as: how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with swimming pool and diving board accident cases; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
And to learn more about swimming pool accidents, read our article Common Dangers in Swimming Pools.
