Swimming pools are a great source of exercise and relaxation, especially during the summer heat. But they are also involved in many serious injuries and deaths each year. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, “From 2019 to 2021, an average of 358 children fatally drowned in pools or spas and 6,500 visit the ER annually each year. Drowning is silent, so parents and caregivers should always watch children when they’re in or near water.” Understanding how swimming pool accidents take place and the types of injuries that may result is a crucial component of helping to prevent them.
Drowning is one of the most traumatic outcomes of any swimming pool accident. But even near-drowning accidents can leave victims with traumatic injuries. In particular, the longer a person stays submerged in the water without oxygen, the more likely they are to sustain permanent brain damage from oxygen deprivation. This is why it is so important that swimming pools have barriers to prevent unauthorized access. It is also critically important that children are constantly supervised.
Pool decks are inherently slippery, which makes the odds of a slip-and-fall accident all the more likely. This is true even when a person is walking at normal speeds. Victims of slip and fall accidents often sustain traumatic and life-altering injuries.
Pool owners should take a number of actions to prevent slips and falls, including installing slip-resistant surfaces.
Not every pool is properly set up for diving. Diving into shallow water is one of the major causes of preventable pool injuries. These incidents may result in serious trauma.
Consider, for example, Bunch v. Hoffinger Industries. An 11-year-old girl, Leesa Bunch, was left quadriplegic after diving into a four-foot-deep swimming pool. A jury awarded the plaintiff $12 million. The complaint alleged negligence, products liability, failure to warn, and breach of warranty.
Pool maintenance often requires the use of chemicals such as chlorine. If these chemicals are overused or used improperly, their application may result in injuries.
In order to prevent chemical burns and other injuries, property owners should store all pool chemicals in a locked and safe place that is away from children.
Pool drains and suction outlets can pose a risk of entrapment for smaller children. Here are some of the injuries associated with entrapment.
It is important that property owners install anti-entrapment drain covers on all pool drains. Supervision is also critical in the event that a child or other person does become entrapped.
Pool lights and electrical systems in or around a pool can pose an inherent risk of electrocution. Any type of electrical shock in a pool setting may result in life-altering injuries.
Property owners can take several steps to help prevent electrocutions, including installing ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). They should also hire licensed electricians for pool installation and repairs.
Pool owners in New Jersey have a legal obligation to maintain pools in a reasonably safe condition and follow all safety regulations. Commercial property owners will typically need to install a fence around their pool with self-locking gates. When a property owner fails to take reasonable steps to prevent pool injuries, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Any person injured in a New Jersey swimming pool accident may have legal recourse through a premises liability claim. Victims may be entitled to compensation for damages, including lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Our team of premises liability attorneys at Beninato & Matrafajlo is here to help you. We have successfully recovered over $100 million for our deserving clients and will fight to get you the support that you deserve. Whether you have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 908-355-7100.