Here’s What You Need to Know About Personal Injuries at a Swimming Pool
A perfect summer afternoon can quickly become devastating when a personal injury occurs. Here’s what you need to know to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Visiting a public swimming pool can be an incredibly relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Whether you bring your children, your partner, or your friends, chances are you want to spend time splashing around in the water and enjoying the sunshine. You don’t want to worry about someone becoming seriously injured at the pool. Sometimes, even at a public swimming pool, a personal injury can occur. Before you hit the pool this summer, there are a few things you need to know about injuries and staying safe while you’re enjoying yourselves.
1. Injuries can happen to anyone
Even if you’re a strong swimming, accidents can happen at a public swimming pool. Injuries can range from minor to severe, so make sure you’re on alert anytime you’re at a pool. Sometimes an area may not be marked as unsafe for diving, which can lead to injuries if someone tries to dive in water that is too shallow. They may injure their spinal cord or even experience head trauma. Slips and falls can also occur at the pool. In some cases, drains that are unsafe or faulty may cause harm to swimmers. This is called circulation entrapment and can essentially suction someone to the drain, which prevents them from swimming away.
2. It’s important to see a doctor promptly
Even if you initially believe your injuries to be minor, you should visit your personal physician as soon as possible to have the injury checked out and documented. Your doctor will examine you and offer guidance for healing. If the injury is more severe than you suspected, your physician may order further testing in order to offer a complete diagnosis, as well as to create a care plan for recovery.
3. You need to document the injury
One of the most important things you can do is to document the injury. Visiting a doctor will provide you with documentation about the injury; however, you should also document the area with photographic evidence if possible. For example, if your family member was diving in the pool but it was not marked as unsafe for diving, you should take pictures to prove there were no signs. If the pool employees put up a sign after your injury, you’ll have to argue that the sign wasn’t present. Taking a picture can prove your side of the story.
If you, your child, or your loved one has been injured at a public swimming pool, reach out to an attorney as soon as possible who can help you. The right lawyer can review your documentation, listen to your story, and advise you as to what steps you need to take in order to move forward. You are not in this alone. Call today for your initial consultation with an attorney you can count on.