Swimming Pool Drowning Accidents

Swimming pool drowning and near-drowning accidents are almost always the result of negligence, and therefore, preventable. Lack of barriers or insufficient barriers, inadequate supervision, and lifeguard negligence are common causes of swimming pool drowning accidents. Poor swimming pool maintenance or faulty pool parts can also lead to horrific drowning accidents such as pool drain entrapment. Drowning is a leading cause of death in children 14 and under. Survivors are often permanently disabled.

Swimming Pool Drowning Accident Causes

Toddlers are the most likely to drown in a swimming pool accident, but anyone can be the victim of a swimming pool drowning accident, even good swimmers. Drowning can occur very quickly. Most swimming pool drowning or near-drowning accident victims are missing for less than five minutes before they are discovered in the water. Some common causes of swimming pool drowning accidents include:

• Inadequate barriers allowing children and adults to wander into pool areas unknowingly
• Lack of warning signs
• Inadequate supervision
• Lifeguard negligence
• Entrapment in pool cover or pool drain
• Dirty swimming pool making it difficult to get out of the pool or to see drowning victims who are full submerged

Swimming Pool Barriers

Home and business owners have a responsibility to install and maintain effective barriers that prevent children and unsuspecting adults from wandering into swimming pool areas, under premises liability law.

For outdoor swimming pools, that typically means having an adequate fence at the very least. Some jurisdictions have laws requiring fences or walls that serve as a barrier are of a certain height or taller. An above-ground swimming pool may be considered to be its own barrier, due to its height, but access must be restricted by removing or otherwise securing the ladder.

Indoor swimming pools and pools that are accessible from inside a building must have proper barriers as well. This can be an alarm on the door and/or a latch system that prevents unauthorized parties from entering the pool area.

Swimming Pool Drowning Accident Injuries

Survivors of swimming pool drowning accidents can be permanently and severely disabled.

Victims who require CPR almost always suffer brain injuries. Brain injuries in near-drowning are caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Brain injuries caused by drowning accidents can range in severity from minor, temporary impairment to a permanent vegetative state.

Water that is inhaled can also cause lung damage. It is common for swimming pool water to contain dangerous contaminants that can cause short term illness or permanent lung damage. Bacteria, dirt, algae, and even the chemicals used to maintain the pool can cause lung injury.

Victims of pool drain entrapment can be disemboweled by the suction of the pool pump, and those who survive may have to be fed intravenously and require a colostomy bag for the rest of their lives.

Contact our Personal Injury Lawyers and Attorneys today to find an experienced swimming pool accident lawyer near you.