Spending the day at the pool should be a fun activity for the entire family. Tragically, however, each year, pool accidents are responsible for drowning fatalities, non-fatal drowning injuries and long-term disabilities in both children and adults.

 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of deaths in U.S. children ages 1-4, excluding birth defects. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children 1-14 after auto accidents.

 

Other accidents at pools can cause injuries, too. Failure to maintain appropriate chemical and chlorine levels can cause chemical exposure injuries. Unregulated temperatures in spas may lead to burns. Broken railings, diving boards, decks, and pool surfaces can also cause injury.

 

Many tragic pool injuries are preventable. Property owners have an obligation to adhere to pool and safety laws, which may include installing barriers, fences, pool covers, alarms, or other approved safety devices. Additionally, property owners are responsible for ensuring their pools are properly maintained and that there is adequate supervision of their pools and spas. This applies to both residential pool owners and commercial pool owners.

 

Non-fatal pool incidents in both children and adults can cause severe spinal trauma, damage to the nervous system, and brain injuries, among other types of injuries. If you have been injured or have a family member who has drowned due to the negligence of a pool or property owner, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.

 

At Coughlan and Vinel, we have extensive experience working with victims of catastrophic personal injury, including brain injury, spinal injury and wrongful death. We approach each of our cases with compassion toward the survivors and their family members. We have a small caseload so that we can give each case the special attention, passion and care that we would expect for our own family members.