Data gathered by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center shows that diving accidents are a common cause of spinal cord injuries. Diving accidents can occur in lakes, ponds and rivers, but many also occur in swimming pools. In a majority of cases, swimmers are injured by diving into shallow water. However, this is only one example of how swimming pool accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. Other causes of swimming pool injuries may include:
- Slip and fall accidents: Wet surfaces near swimming pools or on diving boards may cause people to suffer spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries.
- Electrocution: Defective underwater lights may send electrical currents flowing through swimming pools. People may be electrocuted after jumping into the water. Swimmers may also be electrocuted if electronics plugged into an outlet fall into a swimming pool.
- Drowning: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics show that unintentional drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional death among children 14 years old and younger. Swimmers who survive these accidents may suffer severe traumatic brain injuries due to oxygen deprivation. Many accidental drownings occur because children are not being properly supervised.
Can I File a Lawsuit for Swimming Pool Injuries?
Swimmers are not to blame for many of these accidents. In some cases, property owners are responsible for swimming pool accidents that result in catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. For example, property owners may fail to perform maintenance on diving boards, underwater lights and other equipment. Lifeguards at public or private pools may also neglect to supervise children. In such cases, swimmers and parents of children who are injured in these accidents may have options to secure damages from property owners or businesses.
Catastrophic injuries can result in millions of dollars of expenses, including hospital and rehabilitation bills, as well as lost income over a lifetime. If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in a swimming pool accident, the Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., can help determine if you are eligible to recover damages that may help pay for these expenses.
