Philadelphia Swimming Pool Accident Lawyers

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools are all around us. They are in motels, hotels, cruise ships, vacation resorts, country clubs, schools, backyards, private swim clubs, community centers or city pools. Each year, there are thousands of swimming pool and diving board accidents, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and drowning incidents.

Because pool owners and managers are liable by law to ensure that the pool area is safe for swimmers, many of these injuries or deaths are the result of negligence. Since 1958, the Philadelphia premises liability attorneys at The Beasley Firm have fought for the victims of poorly-maintained or unsecured pool areas. We have more than 60 years of experience in this area of the law, allowing us to develop strong and thorough cases that get results for our injured clients.

Our achievements in the last 55+ years includes:

• Hundreds of million-dollar and multimillion-dollar results
• More than $2 billion in verdicts & settlements since 1958
• Many of the largest verdicts in Pennsylvania history ($907 million, $100 million, $55 million, $37 million, and others)
• Firm-wide selection to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list
• Perfect 10.0 rating on Avvo-the legal rating website

Call (215) 866-2424 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can tell you if a trial is the best course for your case and how our Philadelphia premises liability lawyers can help.

Swimming Pool Risks

Pool owners are required by law to have a fence around their pool, as well as other safety measures. On December 19, 2007, the Pool and Spa Safety Act was enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush. Under the law, all pools and spas are required to have compliant drain covers and safety vacuum release systems (SVRS), which can detect a blockage in the drain and immediately shut it off.

This law was enacted to prevent drain entrapments and eviscerations, or the removal of the internal organs, usually the bowel or intestines, due to the drain suction. In addition to drowning or drain entrapment, other pool injuries or death can occur due to a child getting trapped behind ladders in the pool, missing water depth markings, or missing ropes to section off deep water.

In our experience as premises liability attorneys, serious injuries and fatalities are also caused by:

• Slip and falls on ladders
• Improper non-skid paint on the pool floor or pool deck
• Electrocutions due to faulty lights and wires inside a pool
• Absent rescue materials such as hooks, life preservers, or other flotation devices
• Inattentive lifeguards
• Not enough lifeguards on duty to be able to properly watch all swimmers
• Overcapacity or a crowded pool, obscuring the lifeguard's view

Even if it is not a law, pool owners should place motion alarms in their pools and take every precaution possible to prevent accidental drownings. Pools should also be surrounded by a fence with a self-latching gate. When an above-the-ground pool is not in use, entry ladders should be removed or blocked to prevent a child from entering the pool. When covering a pool, make sure it is covered with a secure pool cover that would prohibit any access to the water.

Diving Board Dangers

Many swimming pools have diving boards that also cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, and fatal injuries. Most accidents on diving boards are caused by:

• Inadequate non-skid material on steps
• Inadequate or faulty railings
• Worn or improper nonskid material on end of the diving board
• Buildup of oily suntan lotion on end of board
• Diving board too close to the side wall
• Rusty bolts that secure the diving board to the frame
• Rusty bolts that secure the frame into the cement

Since 1958, the experienced Philadelphia premises liability lawyers at The Beasley Firm have aggressively represented clients and their families who have been injured or killed in or around a swimming pool. Our swimming pool accident team includes a swim club Board of Directors President and individual pool owners that are highly knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of swimming pool and diving board safety.

By combining our resources, knowledge, and trial experience, we are able to provide you with the strongest chance of receiving the compensation you need for medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool or diving board accident, please contact one of our aggressive Philadelphia premises liability attorneys at (215) 866-2424.