When you purchase a home with a swimming pool, you may think of all the fun parties you’ll throw where guests can enjoy jumping in your pool to cool off during the warm summer weather. However, many homeowners neglect to consider the hassle of maintaining a pool. When homeowners fail to maintain their pools, serious accidents, and injuries can occur. That said, as the Fourth of July rolls around, if you plan on hosting a backyard party that involves swimming, you must take the necessary precautions to ensure your guests can enjoy swimming while staying safe. If you attend a pool party at someone else’s premises and suffer an injury due to negligence, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Please keep reading to learn who is liable for a swimming pool accident and discover how our determined Washington D.C. Injury Attorneys can help you secure the fair compensation you deserve.
Who is liable for a swimming pool accident?
As mentioned above, homeowners are responsible for maintaining their premises to provide guests with a reasonably safe environment. This means they must maintain their pool. If they fail to do so and a lack of maintenance causes a guest to be injured, they can be held liable for any damages that were caused as a direct result of their negligence.
While adults may also get injured in a swimming pool, injuries are more common in children. It is critical to note that a homeowner can be held liable for a child’s swimming pool injuries even if the child did not have permission to swim in the pool. This is because of a legal doctrine known as “attractive nuisance.” Essentially, this doctrine obligates homeowners to treat trespassing children like an invitee. Therefore, since children are drawn to pools, homeowners must take the necessary precautions to eliminate potential dangers to prevent swimming pool accidents.
What safety tips should I keep in mind?
When swimming in a pool, staying clear of pool filters, drains, and ladders is critical, as your hair or bathing suit can get stuck, preventing you from swimming to the surface. This is especially important if you are swimming alone. If you are swimming with other people, you should keep an eye on each other. This will prevent drowning accidents. When your children are swimming, it’s essential to watch them closely. Looking away, even briefly, could lead to severe injuries or near-drowning.
As a homeowner, you should secure your pool with appropriate barriers and designate an individual to watch those swimming in the pool. It is also beneficial to install anti-entrapment drain covers to protect your guests from being trapped under the surface.
Although you may take these precautions to keep your guests safe, another property owner may not do the same, which can lead to severe accidents and injuries. If you are injured on another person’s property due to negligence, contact Trombly & Singer, PLLC, today. Our firm is committed to helping our clients hold responsible parties accountable for their negligence.
