Now that the summer has begun and the weather is hot, many people are excited to open their pool to cool off during the season. While this can be both a relaxing and fun amenity to have, it is important to remember that pools can also be hazardous given certain conditions. Unfortunately, property owners who are negligent can cause dangerous swimming pool accidents and drownings to occur. Continue reading below to learn how this can be prevented and contact a Maryland personal injury attorney if you or a loved one was harmed in a swimming pool accident.
What are Important Pool Safety Precautions?
Property owners have a legal obligation to make sure their grounds are safe for everyone who enters. This is especially so if they have a pool. There are many ways a pool can become dangerous to another person if it is not maintained or the owner does not follow proper safety regulation. Needless accidents can be avoided simply by implementing these safety precautions:
- Do not leave a child unattended in the water or near it
- If the pool is deep and people are not able to stand, make sure they are capable swimmers before letting them in the pool
- Stay away from drains and be sure pools have drain covers
- Install proper barriers, covers, alarms, and fencing on and around the pool
- Stowaway portable ladders when the pool is not in use. Children are often attracted to pools and removing ladders can prevent them from climbing into the pool and hurting themselves.
- Pool owners may want to know CPR in case of drowning
- Always swim sober
- Avoid electrocution by prohibiting electric devices near the poor
- Let swimmers know where there are shallow areas so that people do not dive
- Do not install diving boards in pools that do not have adequate depth
Recovering Compensation for Swimming Pool Accidents
If a pool owner does not take the right precautions to maintain safe premises around their pool and an accident happens as a result, they can be held liable for negligence. Injured parties or their loved ones can pursue legal action against them. It is important to know that the injured party must prove negligence. To do so, they must show the pool owner’s behavior and actions directly resulted in the accident as well as the injuries or death. This can be done with evidence such as pictures or videos of the pool, medical documentation of any injuries, witnesses to the incident, and more.
Contact our Firm
The Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz has decades of experience representing clients in Howard County and Anne Arundel County, Maryland who need assistance with a personal injury or criminal law matter. Contact the Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz today to discuss your case.
