Hot and humid are two things we typically do very well during Atlanta summers. As a result, swimming pools are extremely popular. When proper care is taken, swimming can be one of the best parts of summer, but when a pool’s owner or maintainer fails to take proper care, both adults and children can become victims of drowning or other serious swimming pool injuries. If you or a loved one is hurt in one of these accidents it is important to speak with a personal injury lawyer like the attorneys at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC as soon as possible. Also, it is important to understand what sort of pool accidents are common and what can cause them.
Pool Injury #1: Young Child Drownings
One of the most common and most tragic types of pool accident is the drowning of a young child. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is one of the leading causes of injury and death death for children between the ages of 1 and 4. For these toddlers, swimming pools pose the greatest risk of submersion injury. Drowning occurs when a person dies as a result of being submerged in and inhaling water, but non-fatal submersion injuries can also be life-alteringly serious and can result in brain damage. These injuries can be caused by a pool owner’s failure to properly fence off a pool or failing to use fences that completely surround the pool, are at least four feet high, and have proper gate systems. These fences can be just as important for above ground pools, which are the source of many drowning deaths, especially of young boys. Failing to properly supervise children who are using a pool and failure to prevent unintended pool access can also cause pool accidents.
Pool Injury #2: Diving Accidents
Diving, especially for the first time, can be extremely exciting for young swimmers. Unfortunately, if it is not done properly or is done in a pool that is not deep enough for diving, serious head and spinal injuries can result. Installing a diving board in a pool that is not deep enough for one could cause these injuries, but so could failing to enforce “no diving” policies or failing to follow the same safety protocols designed to prevent drowning.
Pool Injury #3: Slip and Falls Outside of the Pool
It may seem like common sense that the ground near a pool may be wet and thus slippery. Pool owners who allow poolside running or roughhousing may be contributing to slip and fall accidents by doing so. Additionally, if a pool area is not lit after dark and guests who do not know that the pool is there are allowed into slippery areas, an accident could easily happen for which a homeowner may be responsible.
Contact Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries or drowned in a pool due to another’s negligence, the experienced attorneys at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC are here to help you with your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.