School is out, the sun is out, and summer vacation is here. As the days get hotter and the little ones start to build up all that energy, you may consider taking them to the neighborhood pool or to your friend’s house with a private pool. It’s a general rule that you should never leave a child unattended while swimming, but accidents can still happen. In fact, drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1-14.
Liability for swimming pool accidents depends on the premises liability law of your state. Commonly, all pools must be reasonably safe for its anticipated use but still, pool owners can be held liable when a visitor or swimmer is injured.
Private Pool Liability
Owners of private pools have a duty to warn social guests of any dangers that are not open and obvious. In addition, they can be legally liable for injuries to children if they are not adequately supervised or if there is no barrier, such as a pool cover or a fence, to stop a child from going into the pool without supervision.
Public Pool Liability
Like owners of a private pool, owners of a public pool have a duty to reasonably maintain the pool and repair any potential hazards. A public pool owner may also be held liable for failing to provide emergency safety equipment or for a lack of adequate supervision (lifeguards). Many states have specific regulations regarding equipment, supervision, and hidden danger warnings. If any of these regulations required by law are ignored or not up to par, negligence may be created.
Swimming is a great Summer activity to get rid of some of that extra energy and to stay cool. However, safety should be the number one priority, whether you are a pool owner or a patron. If you or someone you loved is involved in a swimming pool accident due to negligence, contact one of our personal injury lawyer at The Cochran Firm Philadelphia today.