Swimming Pool Accident Lawyers

2018 has seen an increase in the number of drowning victims. Every year hundreds of children drown in swimming pools throughout the nation and thousands more people (including adults) are hospitalized. Knowing the causes and ways to prevent them saves lives.

Extremely hot summers are characteristic in Dallas/Fort Worth, as well as most of Texas. A swimming pool starts looking like a great place to spend some time. Fortunately for many residents, thousands of local households and apartment complexes have swimming pools. Numerous public swimming pools dot the landscape to beckon those who don’t have access to a swimming pool at home.

The abundance of swimming pools in our communities renders the heat much more tolerable – and a more dangerous as well. Swimming pool accidents happen regularly throughout the summer months in Texas. Here are some causes and helpful tips for prevention to keep your family safe.

The fact that swimming pool accidents are almost always preventable makes the problem that much more frustrating. Some of the most common causes of swimming pool accidents include:

• Overcrowding
• Malfunctioning pool lights
• Untrained, negligent or absent lifeguards
• Lack of markings and/or restraints sectioning off the deep water section of the pool
• Missing safety equipment
• Negligent pool maintenance
• Lack of access restrictions, such as fencing or gates

The best way to handle a swimming pool accident is to prevent one from happening in the first place. Below are some precautions that could reduce the risk of a swimming pool accident:

• Build a sturdy fence around your pool. It should be at least four feet tall and include a gate with a childproof lock
• Supervise children at all times. The younger the child, the closer the supervision required
• Make sure someone who knows how to swim is near the pool any time the gate is unlocked
• Keep a lifesaver or other sturdy flotation device in the pool area, but don’t depend on it as a substitute for someone who can swim
• Be aware of the drowning risks even in hot tubs and shallow “kiddie pools”, and take common-sense precautions
• Be aware of and take precautions against risks other than drowning, such as head injuries caused by a slip and fall during horseplay

Texas premise liability law makes it easier for a person injured in an accident on someone else’s property to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the owner. It applies to both personal residences and commercial establishments such as public swimming pools.

Although premise liability law is somewhat complex and includes many legal nuances, it requires a property owner to repair or warn guests of dangerous conditions on the property that they are aware of.

The attractive nuisance doctrine is a legal principle that makes it easier for even a trespasser to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against a property owner under certain circumstances. It is normally difficult for a trespasser to file a claim against a property owner for an injury caused by a dangerous condition on the property. It becomes much easier, however, when the trespasser is a child who was injured (or tragically killed) by a hazard that is likely to attract children (such as an unguarded swimming pool) as long as the child is likely to have lacked the ability to appreciate the danger of the hazard.

If you or your loved one suffered an injury in a swimming pool accident, or if your loved one died that way, you are going to need help determining whether you have a valid claim, calculating its value and successfully pursuing it.

The Dallas Personal Injury Attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky, LLP are ready to help you recover the compensation that you are entitled to. Our team of premise liability lawyers are ready to help fight back. Contact us at (214) 987-0005 or 1-888-987-0005 for a free case evaluation.