Swimming Pool Accidents in Florida
Swimming pool accidents can be deadly, and those who survive often suffer serious injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, contact People for Law for a free consultation.
In Florida, no summer is complete without swimming pools. Many Florida residents are proud owners of in-ground or above-ground backyard swimming pools. Swimming pools make the perfect spot for recreational activities in the summer. However, without the right security features and safety standards, they become one of the leading causes of accidents and even deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 11 fatal unintentional drowning incidents occur daily in the U.S. The number of non-fatal incidents is simply double.
Improper diving, slips, and falls are mainly responsible for these accidents. Negligence in observing necessary safety measures leads to a large number of swimming pool accidents. Despite Florida’s stringent laws and guidelines for swimming pool safety, many private and public pool owners are negligent in maintaining their premises. Florida law stipulates that the number of lifeguards at public pools must be proportionate to the number of people in the pool. Public pools are required to have safety features like pool enclosures and proper signage. The law also covers safety requirements for residential swimming pools, such as safety barriers, pool alarms, and self-closing and self-latching gates.
We at People for Law understand that the feelings of helplessness and frustration that follow when an accident befalls you or a loved one can be overwhelming. However, it is important to remember that you are entitled to compensation when you suffer a traumatic incident like a swimming pool accident. When it is not your fault, you deserve to hold the responsible party accountable and recover monetary compensation. Our swimming pool accident lawyers are here to help!
Who should pay for a swimming pool accident?
To determine who is legally responsible for a swimming pool accident, we must first take a look at the leading causes of such accidents:
- Lack of supervision: When young children are involved, lack of supervision is a major contributor to swimming pool accidents. Chances of an accident occurring are especially high when insufficient or no lifeguards are on duty or lack adequate training.
- Intoxication: Unfortunately, a large percentage of swimming pool accidents take place due to intoxication. Under the influence of alcohol, Individuals may experience a lack of coordination or impaired judgment, ultimately leading to accidents.
- Defective equipment: Serious accidents or even death can occur because of defective equipment. Pool equipment must be kept well-maintained and functioning at all times to prevent accidents. Federal law states that all pools must have anti-entrapment devices to prevent clothes or limbs from getting trapped in the drains.
- Damaged property: Improper maintenance increases the chances of accidents. Lack of swimming pool enclosures and warning signs are extremely dangerous, especially to young swimmers. Damaged floors are a dangerous tripping hazard that can result in trips, slips, and falls.
Property owners in Florida have a duty to take appropriate precautions to prevent foreseeable harm to individuals on their premises. This duty includes taking adequate safety measures to ensure the safety of individuals using their pool. If and when property owners fail to fulfill their duty of care, leading to a swimming pool accident, they may be held accountable.
Suppose property owners neglect to fulfill their duty of care, leading to a swimming pool accident. In that case, victims have the right to pursue legal action. Legal action allows victims to recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses incurred due to the accident. Circumstances under which filing a claim is possible include:
- Negligence: Negligence is failure to comply with reasonable safety standards. Multiple individuals can be held responsible for swimming accidents under this premise. An employer may be held accountable for a lifeguard’s negligence or failure to have enough lifeguards on duty. Equipment installers must bear responsibility for wrongly installed equipment. Failure to comply with state requirements and restrictions in the construction of residential swimming pools can lead to the property owner being charged with negligence or strict liability.
- Premises liability: The law states that a property owner should be held responsible for injuries caused due to hazardous and dangerous conditions on their property that they were or should have been aware of.
Product Liability: The seller or manufacturer of a defective swimming pool or equipment may be held strictly liable when the defective product is responsible for accidents or deaths.
Why you need an attorney: People for Law protects your rights
Maneuvering through the complex legalities of a swimming pool accident claim without professional guidance can be extremely challenging
Moreover, it significantly reduces your chances of receiving fair compensation for damages when you go up against business owners, companies, and sellers that have manufactured or sold defective products.
With the help of People for Law’s swimming pool accident attorneys, you need not have fear because we will leverage the law to protect your rights. Our lawyers will evaluate your case, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance providers, and fight on your behalf. They will help you establish liability and assess your damages to determine the monetary compensation you deserve. They pursue appropriate legal processes in order to remedy the injustice you have suffered. We go above and beyond to recover the compensation you are owed for your injuries and losses. With People for Law, you don’t have to settle for any less than you are owed.