Slip And Fall Pool Accidents

Thousands of people fall victim every year to accidents in and around swimming pools. While they are a great source of recreation and accidents rarely occur overall, when they do, the result can be deadly due to the types of injuries incurred.

Swimming pool accidents generally fall into three main categories:

• Lack of supervision,
• Faulty pool equipment, and
• Diving-related accidents   

Lack of Supervision
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,582 fatal unintentional drownings in 2005. Fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1-14.  “Lack of barriers and supervision” is cited as a major risk factor contributing to drowning accidents.

Failure to adequately train lifeguards on duty at recreational pools can lead to a lack of supervision and result in serious death or injury for swimmers.  

Connor Freed was just five-years-old when he was spotted floating in a pool – just a few feet from an empty lifeguard chair. His parents sued the pool management company and won a $4 million verdict in their wrongful death case.  The Freeds now devote much of their time to raising awareness about pool safety.

Faulty Pool Equipment
Faulty equipment in and around a pool can lead to serious injury and death for swimmers.  Pool expert, Steve Goodale, has identified the following parts of a swimming pool that can be sources of danger:

• Electrical Wiring
• Slippery Decks
• Ladders and Stairs
• Pool Winter Covers
• Suction Lines
• Pool Slides

In recent years, several highly publicized cases have brought attention to the dangers of swimming pool drains and suction lines. The main drain is typically located in the deepest part of the pool and is connected to a suction line that runs to the pool’s pump. Unless a pool is equipped with a dual suction drain system, the main drain can become a strong suction if covered by a person or object.  

On June 29, 2007, five-year-old Abigail Taylor was severely injured at a pool when she sat on an open drain in the kiddy pool at a country club pool. The little girl lost 21-feet of her small intestine in the accident and eventually died as a result of her injuries. Her parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the drain cover manufacturer and the country club where the accident took place, and settled with both parties prior to trial.

Diving Accidents
Diving accidents can be catastrophic as they can result in serious injuries to the head and neck. In a study published in August 2008 in the medical journal, Pediatrics, researchers found that 90% of diving-related injuries occurred in swimming pools.  Common injuries were those associated with the head and neck, lacerations and soft-tissue injuries.

Get safety tips and advice on how to control swimming pool accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, you may want to hire an accident attorney.

When selecting a slip and fall attorney you’ll want to ask critical questions such as; how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with swimming accident cases; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?