Home Premises Liability Swimming Pool Accidents

Long Beach Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer

Compensation for Long Beach Swimming Pool Accident Injuries

swimming pool

Swimming accidents claim the lives of over 1,000 children each year, and swimming pools account for over 33% of the fatalities. Thousands of adults will also die or suffer catastrophic personal injury as a result of swimming mishaps this year.

Owners of private "backyard" pools have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for visitors and need to focus on accident prevention. So do city pools, apartment complexes, and hotels. They need to have fencing. They need to have covers. They need to make sure children cannot enter the premises without being allowed in. When they fail to do these things, they may be held liable to the victim’s family in a lawsuit.

Call The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV at (888) 454-5569 for a free consultation with a Long Beach swimming pool accident attorney if you or your family member has been hurt at the pool.

Types of Swimming Pool Accidents

We have seen many injuries and deaths in Long Beach related to:

  • Drowning: It only takes a few seconds for someone to slip under the water, without even the ability to struggle. To prevent this, public pools must be staffed with lifeguards, and private pool owners must provide adult supervision for anyone visiting them. Fatal drowning is a tragedy that impacts thousands of families every year.
  • Near-drowning: If the victim is retrieved in time, he or she may live, but suffer serious brain damage from the time spent without oxygen. The victim will require expensive medical care to function as best as he/she can.
  • Slip-and-falls: At the poolside, wet pavement, slick diving boards, and slippery handholds are a recipe for sudden falls. If the pool management does not put up warning signs, have lifeguards to enforce the rules, and take steps to remove trip hazards and prevent falls, they can be held liable for the broken bones, deep lacerations, and head injuries suffered by fall victims.
  • Diving injuries: There should be signs warning people not to dive in shallow water, and verbal warnings given as well. A dive into shallow water can lead to a spinal cord injury, even lifelong paralysis. In addition, swimmers must be kept from jumping into the water on top of another swimmer – the force can send someone down below with injuries, and make it very difficult for him or her to struggle back to the surface.
  • Suction injuries: Broken drains can suck in long hair, jewelry, a baggy swimsuit, or even hands and feet, and hold the victim underwater long enough to drown. Sitting on a powerful drain can cause disembowelment. There are safety measures that the federal government requires to be installed at pools, such as drain covers and drain cut-off mechanisms. Older pools with only one drain, instead of multiple drains, are much more powerful and therefore dangerous: they can pull the equivalent of 500 pounds in pressure into them and be impossible to escape from.

These accidents can take place at a residence, an apartment complex, a hotel, or a public park. Visit poolsafely.gov for more information about swimming pool safety.

What Is the “Attractive Nuisance” Doctrine?

California, unlike other states, does not adhere to the “attractive nuisance” doctrine in dealing with child trespassers – the idea that young children are naturally attracted to certain hazards, and homeowners who have those hazards on their property (like pools) have a greater responsibility to keep them safe.

Instead, California courts look at each situation on a case-by-case basis. Trespassers are afforded more rights in California, and a jury will decide how much the homeowner has to pay to the victim and family. A good lawyer can make a huge difference in presenting your case, and get you the maximum amount of compensation available.

Filing a Claim Against Negligent Parties

If you or a loved one has been injured in a private or public pool, you may be able to file a claim for damages against the owner/operator of the pool if you can prove the following:

  1. Negligence - The owner failed to provide a safe environment;
  2. Causation - The owner's negligence caused the accident;
  3. Damages - You suffered damages as a result of the accident.

Always consult an experienced Long Beach premises liability lawyer before you file a claim for damages. The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV has handled dozens of pool injury claims in the Long Beach area. Call (888) 454-5569 to set up your free case evaluation and get the representation you deserve.

"Joseph, Thank you for your assistance. Your understanding compassion & incredible expertise are admired & appreciated. I will be referring any of my clients who require legal help to you."
- M.D.