Tampa Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer

Florida leads the country in the number of drowning deaths among children ages one to four. Swimming pool accidents in Tampa can affect people of all ages and cause life-threatening injuries. If a swimming pool owner in Florida is negligent or fails to use proper care to prevent harm, he or she can be held responsible for related injuries or deaths.

Common Types of Swimming Pool Accidents and Injuries

A swimming pool can present many hazards for swimmers and children in the community if the premises is not properly maintained. Many accidents and injuries can occur in a dangerous swimming pool in Tampa, such as:

• Slip and fall accidents on a slippery pool deck
• Diving accidents involving shallow pools
• Cervical spine cord injuries and permanent paralysis
• Drowning or near-drowning incidents
• Brain injuries and permanent brain damage
• Pool drain accidents, such as entrapment and suction injuries
• Exposure to harmful chemicals or chlorine
• Injuries from pool toys or equipment

Sadly, swimming pool accidents can result in catastrophic injuries, disabilities, and wrongful deaths. It is important for the victim of a preventable swimming pool accident in Tampa to consider filing a claim for medical bill recovery and other compensation.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Swimming Pool Accident in Florida?

The owner of a property that contains a pool has a legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment. The property owner or controller must take reasonable steps to prevent swimming pool accidents. If someone else would have done more to prevent a swimming pool accident, the property owner in charge of premises safety could be held liable (financially accountable).

Swimming pool owner responsibilities in Florida include:

• Keeping the pool area secure from trespassers (especially child trespassers) using barriers and security systems.
• Properly maintaining the pool, pool deck, and pool equipment and scheduling cleanings and repairs, as needed.

• Supervising swimmers and hiring a lifeguard, or posting warning signs if there is no lifeguard on duty.
• Warning swimmers of known injury risks, such as posting “No Diving” signs if the pool is too shallow for diving.

If a landowner is negligent or fails to meet the standard of care placed on swimming pool owners in Florida, he or she can be held responsible for a related accident through a premises liability claim. This type of case could name the individual property owner as the defendant or an establishment, such as a hotel, motel, spa, resort, community center or the government.

What Are Florida’s Swimming Pool Safety Regulations?

Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act requires all pools to have at least one (but preferably a combination) of the safety features listed below:

• A fence that encloses the pool with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
• Self-closing, self-latching devices on doors that lead directly from the home to the pool.
• An approved pool cover that is fitted to the pool.
• Alarms on all doors and windows that lead to the pool area.

These safety features are meant to keep unsupervised swimmers out of a pool; especially young children. In premises liability law, a swimming pool is known as an “attractive nuisance,” meaning it is a safety hazard that is especially attractive to children. Precautions must be taken to keep children safe from these injury risks.

Protect Your Rights After a Florida Swimming Pool Accident

The best way to protect your legal rights during a swimming pool accident case is by hiring a personal injury lawyer in Tampa to represent you. Your lawyer can help you navigate Florida’s premises liability laws and prove a case against a negligent property owner. An attorney will fight for maximum compensation for your injuries and losses while you focus on healing.

Schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable swimming pool accident attorney in Florida today. Contact Vanguard Attorneys 24/7.