Swimming Pool Accidents- Lawsuit Advances
Swimming Pool Statistics:
Water covers two-thirds of the Earth’s surface. So it’s no surprise that swimming is one of America’s favorite pastimes today. According to the National Swimming Pool Institute, there are over one million residential in-ground swimming pools and another three million above-ground pools throughout the country with more pools being built and purchased each year. Unfortunately, serious and fatal swimming pool accidents are a tragic and regular occurrence every year as well. The National Safety Council reports an estimated 1,000 children and adults will drown annually in swimming pools. Another 50,000 people will require hospital emergency room treatment for swimming pool accidents.
Causes of Swimming Pool Drownings:
Drowning occurs when a person is submerged under the water for over 4 minutes depriving the brain of the necessary oxygen to maintain life. The majority of swimming pool drownings involve children under the age of 19. Most often this disaster occurs when children are swimming alone or swimming without adult supervision. Drownings involving children between the ages of 1 and 4 are most often caused when children wander into a yard through an open gate and fall into the pool unnoticed.
Causes of Swimming Pool Accidents:
Most serious injuries involving a swimming pool occur on the pool deck. Slippery decks and unsupervised running and horseplay lead to many serious head injuries and broken bones. Falls from diving boards and slides are also a big factor. Inadequate pool barriers and fences and old or malfunctioning drain covers are other contributors. Many adults and children also get seriously ill each year by swimming in pools that have not been properly treated with chemicals. Warm waters are a haven for bacteria causing illness.
The Prevention of Swimming Pool Accidents:
Safety is everyone’s responsibility! There are many things we can all do to prevent swimming pool accidents from occurring.
Pool owners should:
- Be familiar with local ordinances and codes for safety requirements.
- Enclose pools on all sides with a locked gate to keep swimmers out when there is no supervision.
- Learn CPR and First Aid.
- Keep rescue devices and first aid supplies near the pool.
- Keep all doors and windows leading to pools locked.
- Use non-slip materials on the pool deck, diving board, and ladders.
- Install any electrical equipment according to local safety codes.
- Use ground-fault circuit interrupters for all electrical equipment around the pool.
- Place ladders at both ends of the pool. Each ladder should have two handrails.
- Install sturdy guard rails completely around all above ground pools.
- Check depth requirements before installing diving boards and slides.
- Mark water depths conspicuously.
- Use a safety float line to separate the shallow and deep ends of the pool.
- Check the pool and equipment periodically for cleanliness and good maintenance.
Swimmers also play an important role to ensure safety for themselves and others and should:
- Teach children to float or swim as early as possible.
- Be sure there is competent adult supervision when using a public or private pool. .
- Never run around a pool deck.
- Stop any rough play that could lead to a fall or a reckless dive into shallow waters.
- Never push others into the pool.
- When using water slides, always go feet first.
- Before diving or sliding, always check first to be sure other swimmers are out of the way.
- Teach children what to do in case of an emergency.
- Keep electrical appliances such as radios out of the pool area to prevent electrical shock.
- Never swim after drinking alcoholic beverages, eating or taking medications.
Victims of Swimming Pool Accidents:
Many swimming pool accidents and injuries occur due to negligence by the pool owner. Pool owners are responsible for enclosing the pool was a safety barrier, ensuring a safe environment for all swimmers, providing lifeguards or adequate adult supervision, safety equipment, knowledge of proper safety procedures including CPR and First Aid, properly treated water, proper depth indicators, covers for filter tanks, absence of electrical wiring or dangerous objects around pool deck, safety rules and supervision for all pool accessories including diving boards and slides.
Law Governing Victims of Swimming Pool Accidents:
Swimming Pool Accidents fall under three 3 different categories of Personal Injury Law: Tort Law, Product Liability, and Premises Liability. If you or your loved one are the victim of a swimming pool accident involving serious injury or death, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your medical bills, lost wages, suffering, and your loss. This is most often referred to as a Wrongful Death Lawsuit. Since none of us are ever really prepared for accidents of this nature and neither have legal representation or emergency funds, it is critical to contact a reputable and experienced attorney for legal advice as soon as possible after the accident occurs.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Funding for Swimming Pool Accidents:
With most Americans living paycheck to paycheck, most of us are not financially prepared for the unforeseen expense that occurs with a serious swimming pool accident. Debt piles up quickly for covering ambulance transportation, emergency room expense, surgeries, doctor’s visits, critical and intensive care, lost wages, funeral costs, and attorney retainer fees. Due to the complexity of swimming pool accidents, receiving compensation for your loss can take considerable time. Lawsuit funding is a fairly new service offered to help victims and attorneys overcome these financial obstacles created by the unexpected tragedy and the length litigation process. Solid Funding works with a network of lawsuit funding companies and lenders to provide pre-settlement cash advances so victims can cover all upfront expenses during the litigation process. Solid Funding also only works with lenders who provide non recourse funding which means in the unlikely event your attorney is not successful in winning compensation for your case, you don’t have to pay back the loan.
Dealing with a serious injury or loss of a loved one is excruciating at best, and combined with financial stress can be just too much for one person to handle or get through. So remember, if you or a loved one is the victim of a swimming pool accident, contact a good personal injury lawyer with expertise in wrongful death lawsuits, and Solid Funding for financial assistance allowing you to focus your energy and attention on your recovery.
Related posts:
- Lawsuit Funding: Slip and Fall Loans and Cash Advances
- Amusement Park Personal Injury Settlement- Lawsuit Funding
- Wrongful Death Settlement Funding
