swimming pool injury attorneys in Mobile, Alabama

Who is Liable for a Swimming Pool Injury?

If you tell a child you’ll take them to the swimming pool, plan on hearing about that promise constantly until you keep it. Whether it’s during summer break or the school year, the pool is one of the most popular ways for kids to spend a free day. However, pools can also be incredibly dangerous. Drowning is a common cause of death for kids, and it only takes seconds for a situation to spin out of control.

If your child experienced a personal injury as the result of a swimming pool accident, you may be entitled to compensation if the owner did not take proper steps to keep it safe. Call Burns, Cunningham & Mackey at 251-432-0612 to learn more.

Plan Ahead for Success

Before you open the swimming pool for the season, make sure you’ve done the necessary prep work. Is the pool properly gated off? Not only is this safer, but it may also be required by your home insurance company. Do you have alarms that will alert you if anyone enters the gate without permission? Are your kids aware of and good at following the rules of the pool? If not, make sure you’ve met these requirements first.

Always Have an Adult Present

It doesn’t matter how good of a swimmer your child is. They should always have an adult supervising them while they swim. That means actually watching them, not reading a book or playing on your phone while they swim. This can make for some long days, but it’s far better than the alternative. If you find that you’re spending almost all of your time supervising the neighborhood kids when you open the pool, bring in some other parents to take on the task. It’s a fair request, especially if their children are benefiting from your pool.

Invest in Swim Lessons

If your children don’t yet know how to swim or aren’t strong swimmers, don’t rely on floaties and pool noodles to keep them afloat. Empower them with the skills they need to get out of an emergency situation, whether it occurs in your pool, out at sea, or in a public pool. Local park districts often have inexpensive swim lessons that make it easy for your little one to build their skills and their confidence.

Stay Present, Even If There’s a Lifeguard

It may feel easier to let your guard down when you’re at a public pool, especially with lifeguards posted every 10 to 20 feet. Even so, you should keep your eye on your child at all times. While you can trust lifeguards to act in emergency situations, you never know how they’ll react until it actually happens—or if they’ll see your child at all. If something happens to your child, you have literal minutes to save them before they start drowning and experiencing significant oxygen deprivation to the brain.

Get Your Pool Checked Out Each Year

Pools should have properly fitted drains and other safety gear to keep swimmers protected. Have a pool technician come out each year before you open the pool to check these features. It’s a quick visit that can give you peace of mind.

Choose the Right Swimsuit

If your child gets out of their depth and starts to drown, you want to be able to spot them and take action immediately. Research has been done on how different swimsuit colors show up underwater, and there are some clear winners. Bright reds and pinks show up fairly well but are slightly more obscured in open areas of water.

Across all bodies of water, neon colors were the most visible in every situation. Some of the worst colors to choose for swimwear include white, blue, gray, and black. They tend to blend in once submerged or may be mistaken for debris.

Explore Your Legal Options After a Swimming Pool Injury—Call Burns, Cunningham & Mackey If you or someone you love has been hurt in a swimming pool accident, don’t wait to seek compensation. Our team can help you explore your options and fight for the compensation you deserve. Schedule a meeting now online or call us at 251-432-0612

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