Swimming Pool Injuries

Every swimming pool owner is required to provide a safe environment for children and adults alike. This responsibility applies to private swimming pools, public or community swimming pools, and hotel/motel swimming pools. If you have been injured in a swimming pool, or if a loved one has died or been severely injured in a swimming pool, you may be entitled to an award of damages under the law. Call the Sewell Law Offices at 1-888-432-0730 for a free case evaluation today.

In Texas, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children ages one through four. A child can drown in water less than two inches deep. Thousands of adults will also die or suffer catastrophic injuries as a result of swimming pool mishaps. For every drowning, five near drowning cases are treated in emergency rooms. Irreversible brain damage from oxygen deprivation can occur in less than three to five minutes. Disabilities from non-fatal drowning can range from memory problems and learning disabilities to permanent cognitive disabilities and brain death.

According to the Center for disease control and prevention, in 2004 there were 3,308 accidental fatal drowning in the United States (an average of nine people per day) which does not include boating related drowning. Males account for 78% of fatal drowning in the United States. Alcohol is involved in 25-50 percent of adolescent and adult water deaths. Many of these deaths occur in swimming pools and are preventable.

More safety tips

  • Take swim classes and learn CPR
  • Limit access to the pool or spa
  • Never leave young children unattended in or near bathtubs, pools, spas, or toddler wading pools
  • Do not allow children to play in pool areas and keep toys out of these areas
  • Keep rescue equipment nearby (long-handled hook or ring buoy)
  • Flotation toys should only be used as toys with adult supervision, because they are often confused with, but are not, lifesavers
  • Only answer the phone if you can do so without leaving children unattended
  • Install a phone by the pool or use a cordless phone
  • Drowning does not only happen to children, so do not allow anyone to swim alone
  • Completely remove a pool or spa cover to avoid the possibility of someone becoming trapped under the cover.

At the Levinson Law Group, we know how to maximize financial recoveries for victims and survivors of swimming pool accidents, and we are sensitive to the unique issues raised in drowning and near drowning cases. If you or a loved one has died or been injured in a swimming pool, call the Sewell Law Offices at 1-888-432-0730 to schedule a free consultation today.