Is Your Family Safe at the Pool?
One type of case seen by a personal injury attorney in Orlando is an injury or wrongful death caused by a poolside accident. The swimming pool is an excellent opportunity to escape the summer heat, but every year hundreds of families are the victims of tragic accidents. Public and private pools are high risk for these 4 common injuries.
Drowning
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4 in the state of Florida, and Florida is ranked among the highest rates of child drownings in the country. Unfortunately, not every pool you visit will require a trained lifeguard on duty, but Florida statutes do require specific safety precautions for all public pools. For instance, appropriate signage and a safety line to mark pools with sloping bottoms are only some of the many requirements.
An experienced Orlando accident attorney will recognize the warning signs of common poolside dangers. It is the responsibility of any property owner to ensure that a pool area is properly maintained and protected, especially for small children that can easily slip and fall into their deaths. Even children that are excellent swimmers need the supervision of a responsible adult. In some cases, clothing and hair can become trapped in the vents at the bottom of a pool, and a child can drown in less than a few minutes.
Diving Board Injuries
A diving board injury occurs when a diver strikes the bottom of the pool, resulting in severe head or neck trauma or often times shoulder or muscle damage from the arms being suddenly forced back. It would seem that any pool fitted with a diving board would be safe for diving, but sadly this is often not the case. A wrongly placed dive in too shallow of a pool will send a diver directly in the slanted incline at the bottom of most pools. You may need an Orlando personal injury lawyer to address the potential lifelong or even fatal results of a diving board that is incorrectly placed.
Falls and Lacerations
The pool, as much as anywhere, is a dangerous place for a fall regardless of your age or swimming ability. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney in Orlando understands that every pool owner is obligated to maintain a safe walking area around the pool, with obstacles clearly marked or free from the walking path. Furthermore, broken glass and debris in or around the pool are a common cause for severe injuries in a place where many patrons are barefoot.
Infections
Public swimming pools are a concern for an Orlando accident attorney as well and the Center for Disease Control, due to the high level of health risks found in poorly treated water. Infectious bacteria such as E. coli (commonly found in feces), norovirus, and Crypto have been repeatedly found in the waters of public pools. These contaminants can cause severe intestinal upset, ear, eye, and throat infections, even chronic respiratory issues. Even the chlorine treatment used to prevent such issues can lead to severe skin and throat irritations if not maintained at the proper levels.
