Swimming pools are a source of fun and exercise. However, they aren’t always safe. Whether they’re located in a backyard, a resort, or a public park, they can be the site of serious accidents.
Are You Aware of These Serious Swimming Pool Accidents and Injuries?
Fatal Drowning
Swimming pools pose a serious drowning risk, especially for young children. For kids under the age of 15, reports from 2012-2014 have shown an average of over 350 deaths each year in U.S. pools and spas. Roughly 77 percent of those deaths involved kids younger than 5.
Non-Fatal Drowning
People who get submerged underwater may begin to drown but initially survive their ordeal. However, they’re still vulnerable to serious injuries and premature death later on.
The complications of prolonged submersion include brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. What are some of the effects of brain damage?
- A coma, persistent vegetative state, or brain death. (The differences between these states are described here.)
- Deficiencies in memory, speech, attention, and other cognitive abilities.
- Impairments in motor abilities.
Slipping and Falling
Pool areas have slick surfaces. Even when people aren’t running, they may slip and lose their footing. A slip and fall can lead to serious consequences, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). As reported by the CDC, falling is a major cause of TBIs; in one year, falls were responsible for about 47 percent of all emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with TBIs.
- Spinal cord injuries. These can result in some degree of paralysis and long-term disability.
- Fractures and soft tissue damage. Pools areas are full of hard surfaces. The impact from a fall can shatter your ankle, fracture your hip, or lead to sprained wrists.
- Drowning. People who slip and fall can end up underwater. If they don’t know how to swim, or if they’re unconscious because of a head injury from the fall, they’re at a high risk of drowning.
Diving Injuries
Over the course of 17 years, roughly 111,341 people under the age of 20 needed emergency medical care from diving injuries in swimming pools around the country. Common injuries include:
- Head, neck, and face injuries.
- Lacerations.
- Fractures.
- Soft tissue injuries.
Pool Drain Injuries
The powerful suction from pool drains can cause severe injuries, including massive damage to the intestines and other internal organs. Pool drain suction can also pin people underwater, leading to drowning.
Electrocution
Pools have electrical components such as pumps and wires. Problems with the wiring can result in shocks that are deadly or that lead to serious, non-fatal injuries.
Exposure to Pathogens
One reason pools need regular inspection is to test for the presence of pathogens that cause serious illnesses. As the CDC points out, even if a pool has proper chlorine levels, the chlorine doesn’t immediately kill all germs.
The infections, which include Crypto and E. coli, can lead to a variety of painful symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. Sometimes they’re life-threatening.
It’s also important to know that people can get injured from pool chemicals. Even though the chemicals are necessary for fighting germs, their unsafe use can lead to respiratory problems, eye injuries, and other medical issues.
Who’s Responsible for Swimming Pool Accidents and Injuries?
Swimming pool accidents can result in steep medical bills from the following:
- Ambulance rides.
- Emergency room visits.
- Hospitalization.
- Surgeries.
- Outpatient care. For permanent or chronic conditions, you may need lifelong care.
- Physical rehabilitation.
- Cognitive therapy, which is necessary after brain injuries.
- Psychological counseling to help cope with the trauma of the accident.
Depending on the nature of the injury, you or your loved ones may suffer lifelong impairments. You may wind up missing work, losing your job, or losing the ability to work. You may need to use a wheelchair or make other changes to the way you live.
Accidents in swimming pools are often preventable. Figuring out who’s responsible for the accident is necessary for helping you get the compensation you need to cope with all of the costs.
Signs of Potential Swimming Pool Negligence
- Lack of secure fencing around a pool area.
- Inadequate supervision from lifeguards or from anyone entrusted to look after children, such as a swim instructor.
- Substandard training or lack of background checks for pool employees.
- Inadequate or inaccessible rescue equipment for the pool, such as rescue tubes and first aid kits.
- Poor lighting around the pool area.
- Absence of secure drain covers.
- Evidence of flawed pool and pool area installation, including cracks, loose components, and faulty wiring.
- Evidence of poor maintenance, including degraded components and substandard cleanliness.
- Unsafe storage or application of pool chemicals.
- Lack of appropriate warning signs (such as “no diving” signs) and clearly displayed information about lifeguard duty, pool depth, deep vs. shallow end demarcation, and other important safety facts.
- Safety or health code violations at a facility with a pool.
This isn’t a comprehensive list. There may be other signs that a pool or surrounding pool area falls short of acceptable safety standards.
The details of your case will vary depending on the nature of the accident and where it took place.
- Who owns or operates the pool?
- Is there more than one individual, company, or municipal body responsible for the accident? For example, the company that installed the pool years ago may share in the responsibility.
- What’s the safety track record of the pool?
Call on Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyers
You need reputable attorneys to help you build a powerful case and fight for the compensation you need after a swimming pool accident.
What are some of the ways an attorney can help?
- Analyzing every detail and making sure you don’t overlook anything.
- Helping you collect and organize the evidence, including medical records, photos or videos from the scene, witness testimony, and documentation pointing to poor maintenance or other indications of negligence at the pool.
- Giving you steady and compassionate support during a stressful time.
- Helping you fight for fair treatment from insurance companies.
- Using in-depth legal knowledge and familiarity with Minnesota courts to figure out the best strategies for your case.
With our superlative track record and extensive experience in personal injury law, we’re capable of taking on your swimming pool accident case. Don’t hesitate to contact us for dedicated guidance and legal advocacy.