Always Follow Safety Rules at Swimming Pools
Living in Nevada especially southern Nevada and Las Vegas comes with its own set of circumstances.
Everyone is familiar with the oppressive heat in the summer in Las Vegas.
In the summer months the temperatures can reach well over 100 degrees or even 120 degrees.
Besides, air conditioning pools are the other way we cool off in Las Vegas.
Some Casino hotels even allow locals to go to the pools with a local ID.
I even remember going to The Rio pool in the summer to beat the heat since I didn’t have a pool at my home.
The Rio was even nice enough to “chill” the pool water to keep it cold so you could actually cool off.
Las Vegas has also become known for the summer pool party at the giant pools at the big casinos.
This all started with Rehab at the Hardrock Pool years ago.
Rehab was the Sunday pool party that started it all.
Every Sunday thousands of people would wait in line and pay over $100 to get in just to stand outside or in the pool itself depending on how crowded it was and who the entertainment that week was.
It was a crazy fun time even though you had to pay to sit in a chair everyone wanted to go to.
But there is always a dark side, over the years at Rehab and yes it was around for years there were a few very bad incidents that happened at Rehab including drowning in the pool.
Since pool parties at hotels and private pools are commonplace in Las Vegas pool accidents are more common than you think.
If you have been injured in an accident at the pool you have rights after an accident.
Call The Richard Harris Law Firm today to discuss your pool accident case.
Common Causes of Swimming Pool Accidents
Swimming pool accidents are caused by many reasons but there are some more common ones that we see:
- Unsafe, uneven or broken area surfaces around the pool area- broken concrete, missing pool deck tiles, and buckled pool area surfaces that haven’t been repaired or replaced are a few examples.
- Electrical problems and broken lights, pool filters or cleaners not working due to electrical problems. Even electrocution can happen if the pools electrical system is not maintained properly.
- Broken or defective equipment. This includes diving boards, drains or drain covers, and stair railings.
- Bad Signage and lack of warning signs, faded or missing sings about diving, water depth or any other safety measures.
- No Lifeguard on duty and improper supervision or no lifeguard at all.
Who Is Responsible for Your Swimming Pool Accident
The homeowner- If you were at a private residence and injured the homeowner must have insurance for their home and that includes the pool. You can pursue a claim through the insurance of the home owners insurance
Condo and Apartment Complex– If you were injured or a loved one drowned in an accident at a condo or apartment complex then the property manager or management company can be held responsible since they are responsible for the safety of their residence.
Hotels and Resorts– Since these are public places they have a higher safety standard to uphold. Since this is the case hotel and resort owners or their parent companies can be held liable for a pool accident or death
Entertainment Company– Sometimes the big pool parties at the hotels are run by large entertainment companies. Essentially the hotel rents the pool to the company for the party. Making the entertainment company the responsible party.
Sometimes figuring out who is at fault in a pool accident or death can be like peeling back the layers of an onion.
That’s why hiring a good legal team can make all the difference .
call Richard Harris for injuries from a swimming pool accident
Common Swimming Pool injuries
Whether or not you are at a giant hotel pool party or at your friends condo pool most common injuries from pool swimming accidents include:
Diving Injuries– this includes neck and spinal cord injuries from hitting the water the wrong way or hitting the bottom of the pool because its too shallow.
Drowning– This happens mostly to unattended children and adults who maybe under the influence or can’t swim. Drowing accidents can be avoided. Sadly brain injuries also happen when a drowning victim ends up living.
Cuts and Bruises– These usually happen by getting caught on a sharp edge of a railing or diving board.
Slip and Fall – This happens all too often when kids are running or adults or drinking and suddenly slip and fall.
No matter how small you may think your pool injury is, you should always seek out medical attention immediately to make sure you don’t have injuries that you’re not aware of.
Then you should call a personal injury attorney before you speak with any insurance company or hotel representative.
Compensation for Damages In a Pool accident or Drowning
If you are a loved was injured in a pool accident you can recover damages for the following –
- Current and future medical bills- This includes all aspects of medical treatment including emergency room visits, physical therapy, surgeries, medications, future or ongoing treatments
- Lost wages- Lost wages include anytime you missed work because of the accident including work missed for medical treatment. Lost wages can also be wages that you could have earned or future earnings
- Pain and suffering- These are damages awarded based on the severity of the accident and determined by a judge.
- Punitive damages- This is to punish the at fault party. Based on the severity of the negligence that caused your accident.
- Wrongful death- No amount of money can replace a loved one but there is specific compensation for the death of a loved one. This money will go to the surviving relative like the spouse or children.
How Much is My Pool Accident Worth
Like all accidents there is no amount of money that can replace a loved one or make someone whole again after a severe injury.
So if you are injured in a swimming pool accident you might be entitled to damages if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence or faulty equipment.
But damages are not set, they are determined by many factors including the severity of the accident or injury.
Was the accident caused by negligence or faulty equipment that could have been prevented or was it just an accident.
Did the accident result in a death?
These are all considerations that are taken into effect when determining the compensation of your case.
Having a strong legal team on your side will help you get the largest settlement available to you.
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
When you are injured in any accident including any pool related injuries you should contact a personal injury attorney right away after you seek medical attention.
But timing is important in Nevada since you only have two years from the date of the accident or two years from the date of a person’s death to file a claim.
At The Richard Harris Law Firm we offer free consultations.
We are available 24 /7, someone will always be available to speak with you.
We work on a contingency basis so you don’t have to lay any money out upfront, we only get paid if we win your case.
Our goal is to get you the maximum settlement allowable by law.
We have had a relationship with the Las Vegas community for over 40 years.
Call us today if you have been injured in a pool accident.
Swimming Pool Accident Statistics
- From 2015-2017, 73% nonfatal swimming pool injuries involved children younger than 5
- Males younger than 15 were twice as likely to be involved in a fatal drowning than females
- Almost 6500 children younger than 15 years old were treated for pool injuries from 2015-2017
- 75% of fatal pool accidents occured at residential locations
- 67% of swimming pool drowning deaths involved children younger than 3 years old.
- In Pennsylvania alone, four children died from drowning in a swimming pool in 2014.
- About 75% of drowning deaths of children younger than 15 occurred at a swimming pool located at a private residence (home pool, neighbor’s pool).
- 17 percent of swimming pool-related drowning deaths among children younger than 15 happened in an above-ground pool.
- 9 percent of those pediatric drowning deaths occurred in portable pools.
