Coral Gables Pool Accident Attorney

Public pools and even some private pools have been the scene for terrible accidents caused by negligence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about ten people die on a daily basis because of unintended drowning. Among all injury-related deaths in the United States, drowning ranks among the top five. Sadly enough, the majority of these accidents involve children.

Both public and private pools must be monitored in order to ensure safety. Just recently, the Florida Department of Health made changes to the swimming pool rules to improve safety. Unfortunately, accidents still occur, and when they do, you should not hesitate to contact a Coral Gables personal injury lawyer about the rights you have to file a claim.

Public swimming pools must be approved and adhere to the new standards set forth in Chapter 514 of the Florida Statutes. Public pools are commonly found at country clubs, parks, community centers and resorts. The establishment that owns and operates the pool is responsible for conducting the necessary repairs and maintaining it so that guests do not become injured or killed.

Drowning accidents are typically fatal, but when victims survive, they typically sustain serious brain damage due to lack of oxygen. Mesa Law Firm is prepared to fight for the victims of drowning accidents and their families so that they can recover compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life.

Negligent Security

One common way that guests are injured or killed at public pools is by way of negligent security. This is a specific type of premises liability that involves a lack of security contributing to the accident. For example, if a lifeguard was supposed to be on duty at the swimming pool but was not paying attention, this can be a liability issue for that public pool. If someone drowns, slips and falls or is otherwise injured and the lifeguard was not there to prevent or assist with the incident, then the injured party can likely file suit.

Lifeguards must also be properly trained to administer the necessary care in the event that someone is injured at the pool. One of the most basic emergency procedures lifeguards should be trained on is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). There are some pools where lifeguards are not required to be on duty. If this is the case, then the pool owners are required to post this information. This may include signs that read: "Warning- No Lifeguard on Duty" or "Children Should Not Swim Without Supervision."

Pool Defects and Determining Liability

Another way that pool visitors can be injured is pool defects. Pools must be constantly maintained in order to ensure safety, which is why broken tiles, cracked cement or defective pool drains can all be a major area of liability. Other defects include a lack of necessary information, rather than something that is broken. This can include a failure to display an accurate water depth, a lack of necessary warning signs (i.e. "No Diving"), or a broken or unsecure gate that allows anyone access to the pool. Provided that you were adhering to all the necessary rules of the pool, you may have a case if you were injured.

Pool accidents typically involve drowning, although many also involve slip and fall accidents. Running on wet cement is dangerous, but if there are no pool rules against it or there are no lifeguards to warn the swimmers, then a slip and fall can constitute an injury claim. Were you or a loved one injured in an accident at a swimming pool?

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