Like many parts of California, Fresno enjoys moderate to warm weather year-round, making it a great city for swimming. However, it’s important for swimmers to understand and respect the dangers that swimming pools can pose—especially for kids. Pools are almost always associated with fun and relaxation, but they can be extremely dangerous when swimmers and parents aren’t cautious and attentive.
Swimming pool owners are supposed to do everything in their power to ensure their pools are safe for people of all ages, but that doesn’t always happen. When they fail to do so, they should be and often are held liable for their negligence when swimming pool guests and visitors get injured.
If you or someone you love was injured in or near a dangerous swimming pool, the premises liability lawyers at Berg Injury Lawyers are here to help. We have the experience and knowledge of California premises liability laws to maximize your chances of getting full compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Common Swimming Pool Dangers
There are few places with more inherent dangers lurking than swimming pools. Both public and private pools are brimming with things that can lead to serious injuries, including:
- Wet surfaces around the pool or inadequate drainage
- Lack of warning signs
- Lack of lighting in dim conditions
- Lack of supervision, especially if the pool is used by children
- Lack of fencing around the pool, especially if it might attract children
- Lack of emergency protocols or safety equipment
- Faulty or unmaintained pool/pool equipment: drains, pool ladders, diving boards, chemical balance, electrical wiring, etc.
These dangers can result in many types of accidents and dangerous situations, including:
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Near-drowning or drowning
- Diving accidents
- Electrocution
- Chemical exposure
Types of Swimming Pool Injuries
Just as there are plenty of dangers in and around swimming pools, there are also many types of injuries that swimmers and people near swimming pools can suffer due to negligence property maintenance and security.
Some of these injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Head trauma or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain damage from near-drowning
- Electrical injuries
- Skin, eye, and respiratory injuries from over-chlorination
Who Might Be Responsible for a Swimming Pool Injury?
Swimming pools are supposed to be safe, with security measures like fencing, warning signs, safety protocols, and regular maintenance. However, it’s common for pools to lack at least one of these required safety measures, and many lack two or more.
When swimming pools aren’t properly secured and maintained and someone gets injured, these parties may be held liable:
- Property owners
- Management companies
- Maintenance contractors
- Equipment manufacturers
- Lifeguards
- Government entities, if the swimming pool was at a public or school pool
A lawyer can investigate liability for your swimming pool injury and hold the at-fault party or parties accountable.
Types of Damages in a Swimming Pool Accident
The injuries associated with swimming pool accidents can be severe, life-changing, and even life-threatening. Victims often require immediate medical attention, and their injuries may cause lasting complications and disability.
Common damages that people who are injured in or near swimming pools can seek from property owners and their insurers include:
- Medical expenses: emergency treatment, surgeries, medications, ongoing treatments, assistive devices and equipment
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Long-term care
After a Swimming Pool Accident, Berg Injury Lawyers Can Help
Because swimming pools are considered inherently dangerous places, it’s common for property owners and their insurers to deny all responsibility when guests and visitors suffer injuries. However, swimming pool-related injuries are often related to property owner negligence. Proving this isn’t easy, but an experienced Fresno swimming pool injury lawyer can help.
At Berg Injury Lawyers, we take the following steps when building swimming pool injury claims for our clients:
- Investigating if negligence occurred and safety standards were met
- Consulting with expert witnesses
- Calculating all your damages
- Negotiating with insurers and fighting for maximum compensation
In addition, we’ll keep you up to date on our progress throughout your claim. It’s important to us to ensure our clients have peace of mind during the entire legal process.
Schedule a Free Consultation
It’s important to act quickly after a swimming pool injury. Evidence can disappear, witnesses can become more difficult to locate and contact, and California’s statute of limitations may expire. In addition, the sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner you may be able to get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Fresno premises liability lawyers at Berg Injury Lawyers are ready to start building your claim today. To get started, just call us or fill out the form on this page and let us know what happened. It’s our goal to help you and your loved ones put your swimming pool accident behind you and start moving forward with your lives.
