Las Vegas Swimming Pool Injury Lawyer
In a warm area like Las Vegas where the temperature frequently climbs into triple digits, swimming pools are a popular way to cool off. However, without the right safety measures in place, they can be incredibly dangerous. In Southern Nevada, there were 14 fatal drowning accidents involving children 14 years and younger between 2019 and 2020.
If you were injured at a swimming pool or if your loved one tragically drowned, you may be eligible for compensation to help cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. To learn more about your legal rights, contact Lerner & Rowe for a free legal consultation. You can reach us by calling 702-877-1500 or by submitting an online case review form.
Common Causes of Las Vegas Swimming Pool Accidents
Swimming pool injuries are typically caused by a lack of supervision and/ or lack of maintenance.
The most common causes of swimming pool accidents include the following:
- Insufficiently staffed lifeguards
- Inattentive lifeguards
- Wet and slippery pool decks, restrooms, locker rooms, and similar facilities
- Water slides or diving boards placed in shallow areas
- Sharp edges on pool equipment or walls caused by broken tiles or similar materials
- Absent or broken fences or gates around the pool
- Broken ladders
- Improperly maintained swimming pool or spa drains
- Improper use of chlorine and other cleaning chemicals
- Suffocation caused by pool toys
- Overcrowding
The Dangers of Swimming Pool Drain Entrapment
The suction caused by drains in swimming pools and spas can be incredibly dangerous if defective or not properly supervised. The most common type of accident occurs when a swimmer’s hair gets caught around or inside the drain. If the swimmer is unable to free themselves, they may drown. Jewelry, bathing suits, and limbs may also get sucked into or around a drain, causing entrapment.
To prevent entrapment from occurring, public pools must have anti-entrapment drain covers. To further prevent the risk of drowning, pool owners should install Safety Vacuum Release Systems which will automatically off pumps when blockages are detected.
Common Swimming Pool Accident Injuries in Las Vegas
While drowning or near-drowning incidents are among the most dangerous swimming-related injuries, they are not the only type of injuries that can occur.
Other common types of injuries include:
- Spinal cord injury: When swimmers dive into shallow waters, they are at risk of hitting their heads on the pool floor which can result in spinal cord injuries.
- Traumatic brain injury: Head and brain injuries can occur after a fall on a pool deck or similarly slippery surface, or if a swimmer hits their head at the bottom of a pool.
- Lacerations: Ladders, tiles, drain covers, and similar equipment may have sharp edges that can cause deep cuts.
- Broken bones: Falls or jumping into shallow waters can break swimmers’ bones.
- Skin or eye irritation: Chlorine and pH levels in the swimming pool and hot tub water should be regularly monitored to prevent unnecessary irritation.
- Bacterial infections and illnesses: Cryptosporidium (Crypto), Pseudomonas, and Legionella are the most common types of outbreaks in swimming pools and hot tubs.
Who May Be Responsible for Swimming Pool Accidents in Las Vegas?
Owners of public and private pools may be held liable for injuries that occur on their premises.
To prevent accidents from occurring, swimming pool owners should:
- Provide adequate supervision: This includes hiring an adequate number of lifeguards, or in the case of private pool owners, providing adult supervision while swimmers are in the pool.
- Regularly clean the pool: In addition to removing debris, pool owners should regularly monitor chlorine and pH levels. Too much chlorine can cause skin and eye irritation, while too little may prevent the spread of dangerous bacteria.
- Fence in the pool: In Southern Nevada, even private pool owners must have a fence or gate around their pools to prevent drowning accidents.
- Inspect pool equipment: Broken ladders, handrails, slides, diving boards, and similar equipment should be immediately fixed or replaced if broken.
- Warn guests of slippery and hazardous areas: Guests should know of commonly slick areas where falls may occur, shallow areas where diving is prohibited, and similar risks.
- Use anti-entrapment drain covers: Pool owners should prevent drain suction and entrapment accidents by putting covers on every drain, and they should have mechanisms in place to shut off power if a swimmer does get stuck.
Why Hire a Las Vegas Swimming Pool Injury Lawyer?
Swimming pool accidents can result in life-altering or even fatal injuries. In addition to the sudden grief, loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering, you may also be faced with considerable financial burdens.
One of our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers can help you pursue compensation to alleviate your financial losses. Lerner & Rowe has the skills and resources needed to thoroughly investigate your accident and hold all negligent parties accountable for your losses. Our Las Vegas attorneys will review surveillance footage, talk to witnesses, and review official medical and accident reports to gather evidence showing how you or your loved one were injured and what caused the accident.
Our Las Vegas swimming pool injury legal team will walk you through each step of litigation, handling all paperwork and correspondence with insurers and relevant parties. Using our years of legal experience, our Las Vegas law firm will help you spot low settlement offers and negotiate for fair compensation.
Contact Lerner & Rowe’s Las Vegas Swimming Pool Injury Attorneys
If you were injured in a swimming pool accident, or if your loved one drowned or died in a similar accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Lerner & Rowe has recovered billions for injured Las Vegas residents.
It just takes one call to see if you are eligible to file a lawsuit. Call us anytime or submit an online form to schedule your free legal consultation. You will not pay any fees unless you win your case.