It is that time of year again in Texas, where the pool is the main attraction for many looking to escape the heat. Unfortunately, pools can be attractive to people of all ages, including young children who do not yet know how to swim. Practicing pool safety is important for all property owners whose properties have pools on them. Failing to properly protect your pool from young children could expose you to liability.
Nationwide, children under age 4 are most likely to drown. Among this age group, most of the deaths occur in home swimming pools, or pools where lifeguards are not present, such as apartment swimming pools and hotel swimming pools. For this age group, drowning is the second most frequent cause of death (only birth injuries claim more lives). Thus, drowning constitutes one of the most common causes of accidental death among children aged 1 to 4 years old.
Many drowning deaths could be prevented. According to the CDC, most drownings result from:
- Inability to swim
- Lack of gates with locks and four-sided barrier fencing around swimming pools
- Lack of close supervision
- Failure to wear life jackets (especially for boating deaths)
- Using alcohol around the water
- Seizure disorders
- Leaving pool toys in the pool that attract children
Swimming deaths also result from:
- Obscured or missing depth markers
- Untrained or distracted lifeguards
- Slip-and-falls
- Damaged diving boards and other equipment, such as steps and ladders to the pool (for above-ground pools)
Swimming pool injuries that do not result in death frequently leave victims seriously disabled. Nonfatal accidents can cause serious brain injuries that can affect people for the rest of their lives. Additionally, swimmers break limbs, and they also contract serious illnesses when pools are improperly cleaned.
Owners of pools can be held civilly liable for their failure to prevent serious injury and death in or near their pools.
For over 70 years, Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner has successfully represented injured people and families who fall victim to catastrophes like pool drowning accident. Our attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to obtain just compensation for our clients. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in an accident involving n improperly secured pool, it is important to understand your right to recover. Call us today at 713-222-7211 or 1-800-870-9584 for your free consultation.