It is summer, the sun is blazing, and it is hot. Everyone is looking for a way to stay cool. And for many people, that means spending a lot of time around swimming pools. But a moment of being inattentive when you are swimming can be devastating. It is important to be careful and stay safe to avoid swimming pool accidents in New Jersey.
Causes of Swimming Pool Accidents in New Jersey
Whenever people are playing and being active, there is the potential for someone to get hurt. Many of the injuries happening around swimming pools in New Jersey could have been avoided. Here are a few common ways people get injured or killed hanging out in the pool.
Drowning From Exhaustion or Inexperience
Sometimes people lie about how much swimming experience they have. Once they get in the middle of the pool and start to have a cramp or get tired, it can be too late. Every year, 23 percent of child drownings in the United States happen around a swimming pool during a family gathering.
Drowning Due to Negligence
If there is no fence around the pool it could be very easy for a child to become curious and fall in. It happens every year. People also drown simply because whoever is supposed to be watching them becomes distracted by a conversation, a text, or something similar.
Brain, Head, or Neck Injuries
Diving into a pool that is too shallow can cause life-changing injuries. Many people have done so and received a brain injury after hitting their head on the bottom. It can also cause spinal injuries that could leave you unable to walk.
Entrapment
Hair and clothing can get caught in a drain that is not covered. It happens to children more than adults. People do not notice that a child has gone under until they have been down for too long.
How to Prevent Swimming Pool Accidents
Adults can become focused on taking care of something while the kids are playing in the pool. A few seconds with your back turned is all it takes for an accident to occur. But there are a few things that you can do to prevent an injury.
- Make sure that all the drains in your swimming pool have covers. Also, be sure your guests know where they are so they can stay away from them and keep them clear of children.
- Put a fence around your pool with an alarm. A large number of accidental drownings happen when there are not any activities happening at the pool. A child can approach the water out of curiosity.
- Post signs around the swimming pool identifying what the depth is. Post "no diving allowed" signs in the shallow area.
- Get certified in CPR so that if the unthinkable happens you have some knowledge of what to do.
- Never leave a child unattended near a swimming pool for any reason.
Can I Be Sued If Someone Gets Hurt?
If someone gets injured or even dies in an accident at your swimming pool, their family may be able to file an injury claim to recover compensation. If your property has not been properly maintained, or the accident occurred due to your negligence, the court may find it in their favor.
If you allow guests to use your swimming pool, you must keep the area as safe as possible. Proper maintenance must be completed in a timely fashion. Never let anyone in the swimming pool if it needs repairs to drains, ladders, or steps.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
If you or someone in your family is injured in a swimming pool, you may be able to file a claim to recover compensation for your losses. In the state of New Jersey, there is a statute of limitations on personal injury accidents of two years. After that time is up, you will probably not be allowed to file.
Determining liability in a swimming pool accident can be complex. In some cases, the property owner may be different than the property manager. And proving the elements of an injury claim often takes the expertise of an experienced lawyer.
If successful, compensation in a New Jersey swimming pool accident could include medical expenses, lost income, as well as intangible losses like pain and suffering. If the medical prognosis includes long term treatment, compensation should account for the entire course of the injury.
Things to Remember
People are injured and killed every year in swimming pool accidents in New Jersey. Prevention is the best remedy to keep the number of people affected as low as possible. If you have a swimming pool, take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the guests that use it. Safety is the priority, and that starts with being vigilant and knowledgeable.
Brandon J. Broderick, Compassionate and Experienced New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers
If you’re dealing with the devastating consequences of a New Jersey swimming pool accident, we can help. Our compassionate, experienced personal injury attorneys are focused on exceptional client care and aggressive litigation of your claim. Don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. Many of our clients experience a sense of relief once they make that first phone call.