Diving Into Pool Injuries (and Your Personal Injury Case)

Lathering on your SPF, breaking in your new swimsuit, and taking a dip in the pool is the perfect summer day for many. However, pool injuries can quickly occur due to the combination of heat, deep water, and slippery surfaces. These injuries can quickly create lethal consequences for your relaxing day. From minor injuries to death, swimming can quickly result in harm. Before you make a splash this summer, make sure you know what to do in the instance of a pool injury. Let’s dive right in.

Children At Risk

To talk about pool injury, we have to talk about our most vulnerable swimmers. It’s no secret that swimming is particularly dangerous for children, but the statistics are startling.

• Drowning is the number one killer nationally of children aged 1 to 4 years and the number two killer of children 0-17 in unintentional injury deaths.
• 84% of drowning fatalities in children under 5 occurred at residential locations.
• Children account for one out of four drowning deaths
• 945 children drown each year in the US

Many of these injuries and fatalities are as a result of inadequate safety features and lack of supervision.  Children should never be left alone with access to a pool and should be educated on pool safety. Swimming lessons for children can reduce the risk of drowning among children ages 1 to 4 by 88%.

Additionally, safety measures such as pool fencing are necessary to prevent children from accidentally falling into the pool. If you are a residential pool owner, be sure to install and maintain these safety features.

What to know about pool injuries

Including children, approximately 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths occur annually in the United States.  However, there are many nonfatal drowning injuries that can lead to lasting consequences. The most common pool-related injuries are head injuries (including traumatic brain injuries) and spinal cord injuries.

When you are the victim of a nonfatal drowning injury, you will likely need continued treatment after being treated in the ER. In fact, more than 50% of drowning victims treated in emergency departments require hospitalization or transfer. Beyond hospitalization, nonfatal drowning can cause brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functions.

The implications of pool injuries are far-reaching and serious, but you don’t have to face them alone. If you or a family member has suffered from a fatal or non-fatal pool injury as the result of the property owner’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation.

Your personal injury case

If you are injured at the pool, it is vital that you promptly contact a lawyer that specializes in Personal Injury. A lawyer can help you maximize your compensation to cover the overwhelming medical costs after a pool injury. You may have a personal injury case if:

• There was an absence of personal safety signage near deep water areas
• There were hazardous conditions present that could lead to injury (without appropriate signage)
• There were no rules posted to warm swimmers about running/diving
• There were no posted signs of lifeguard availability status

When you’re facing a pool injury, we can help. Your consultation is free, and we don’t charge unless we win your case.  The Illinois Hammer Injury Law Firm has over 30 years of experience specializing in personal injury law.  We have a dedicated team of attorneys that will fight to maximize your compensation and make sure you aren’t getting taken advantage of by insurance companies.

Get justice for your pool injury without settling for less. Call us at 888-7-Hammer (888-742-6637) today for a free case assessment.