Beating the Texas heat in the summer is not easy, but swimming pools are a great way for adults and children alike to cool off when the sun is beating down. Unfortunately, pools can also be a source of distress when they are left poorly maintained or when individuals who are not strong swimmers—especially children—are unsupervised.
Swimming pool accidents in Baytown can happen on private property (residences, hotels, clubs) or in public areas, such as a community swimming pool, and can result in serious injuries or even death. There are several legal options when seeking restitution for a pool accident including premises liability claims, negligence, wrongful death if there was a fatality, or product liability claims. Seeking help from a law firm skilled in dealing with swimming pool accidents can help establish liability and hold the proper party responsible.
How Do Swimming Pool Accidents Happen?
There are multiple causes of swimming pool accidents, and many of them can be more or less easily prevented. While some will likely only cause minor injuries, pools can be a dangerous liability and should be properly maintained at all times. Preventing injuries and harm can involve proper supervision of young children who do not know how to swim well, regular maintenance of pool equipment, installing childproof fences or other barriers, swim lessons, and enforcing safety rules (such as no running, jumping, or horseplay). Common causes of Baytown swimming pool accidents include:
- Faulty pool equipment, including drains that can catch on and pull hair, clothing, and limbs
- Lack of supervision for children or other weak swimmers
- Lack of childproof fences or pool covers
- Wet or slippery surfaces around the pool
- Poor or inadequate lighting at night
- Improperly balanced chemicals
- Diving or jumping into the shallow end, causing spinal or head injuries
Taking proper precautions to ensure that both private and public pools are safe, welcoming, and appropriately staffed can help prevent swimming pool accidents and even fatalities. If you or a family member have been injured due to one of the above factors, working with a tireless personal injury lawyer who has experience in pool accidents can help walk you through your legal options and ease your mind.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Swimming Pool Accidents?
Depending on the type of injuries in Baytown swimming pool accidents, multiple parties may be held liable. Your case may involve personal injuries, premises liability, faulty equipment, or negligence on the part of a pool or property owner. Parties who can be assigned liability for negligence in pool accidents may include:
- Homeowners, hotel or apartment complex owners, or businesses
- Property management companies if the pool is maintained by an outside business
- Pool equipment manufacturers if there were faulty products that caused injury or death
- Construction companies or maintenance crews if a pool was built or taken care of improperly
- Lifeguards/pool staff if there was an accident that could have reasonably been prevented by the staff performing their job duties
Sometimes, multiple parties can be held liable for the same accident in appropriate circumstances. In order to prove liability after being injured in or near a swimming pool, you should save all medical bills, receipts, documentation of the incident, reports you made, and witness statements. A steadfast lawyer will be able to help you gather evidence to demonstrate negligence and give you a strong chance of receiving restitution for your injuries, pain, and suffering.
Enlist the Assistance of a Baytown Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer
When you or a loved one suffers from injuries caused by swimming pool accidents in Baytown, your mind is overrun with medical care, bills, potential loss of income, stress, and anxiety. Let a qualified and compassionate lawyer from Schechter, Shaffer & Harris take on the burden of proving that the harm was due to a property owner’s negligence so that you can focus on rest and recovery.
We will fight to ensure that you receive the compensation and closure you deserve. Contact our hardworking, driven team of attorneys today to start the legal process and gain your life back.
