Delray Beach Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer
Going to the pool is almost a daily activity for many Palm Beach County residents, especially during the long hot days of summer. But swimming pools can also be deadly. Indeed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death among children under the age of 5 and the second leading cause of accidental death for children between the age of 5 and 14.
Even for adults, a swimming pool accident can cause serious, life-threatening injuries. The Delray Beach swimming pool accident lawyers at Steinberg Law can assist you in recovering financial compensation if you, or a family member, were harmed due to the negligence of a pool owner or other responsible party.
What Are a Florida Pool Owner’s Duties When It Comes to Safety?
Drowning is the most common danger associated with a swimming pool accident in Delray Beach. Young children are especially prone to drowning if they have access to an unfenced or unsecured pool. For this reason, Florida requires all residential pools to have at least a four-foot barrier to block unsupervised access. Commercial and publicly owned swimming pools must also follow strict lifeguard, maintenance, and safety requirements.
In general, anyone who owns and operates a swimming pool in Florida has an obligation to protect members of the public from reasonably foreseeable harms. This includes:
- conducting regular inspections of the area around the pool for slippery surfaces and potential tripping hazards;
- giving appropriate warnings to guest of any hazards;
- ensuring any pool filters have proper covers that cannot entrap a small child;
- conducting regular pool maintenance and fixing any identified problems; and
- ensuring there is property safety equipment available at or near the pool.
Pool owners can be held liable if they fail to perform the above duties and someone is killed or injured as a result. Victims are entitled to seek both economic and non-economic damages under Florida law. Economic damages encompass a swimming pool accident victim’s medical bills, lost wages, and any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their long-term care and rehabilitation. Non-economic damages cover the victim’s pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, embarrassment, and dealing with the overall psychological trauma of their accident.
In fatal swimming pool accidents, such as those resulting in the death of a small child, the parents can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent pool owner. Damages in a wrongful death case are meant to compensate the parents and other family members for their own emotional trauma and grief in dealing with the sudden and unexpected loss of their loved one.
Contact Steinberg Law Today
A day at the pool is supposed to be a fun and safe family activity. If things turn out just the opposite, however, you may need to speak with a qualified Delray Beach swimming pool accident attorney who can look into what happened and advise you on your options for seeking compensation. Contact Steinberg Law today to schedule an initial consultation.
