Now that warm weather is coming to the Charlotte area, it’s time to get your swimming pools ready for action. While having a swimming pool on your property can offer countless hours of fun in the sun, it is also a safety hazard for invited guests and children in your neighborhood. These safety hazards can be seen as premises-liability issues.
“It is crucial that you take the necessary steps to prevent yourself from pool related personal injury lawsuits,” said Ballantyne personal injury lawyer, Thomas Bumgardner. “If you don’t, the consequences could be costly.”
Protect Your Invited Guests
Believe it or not, invited guests can sue you for injuries they sustain while in or around your pool if it was caused by your negligence. It is your duty to provide a safe swimming environment for your guests, and if you do not, you are liable.
To best protect yourself, you should:
Post Warning Signs Inside the Pool Area – Signs that indicate that a pool user must swim at their own risk and that there is no lifeguard on duty should be posted in a visible area. This may help your case by showing that the guest was aware of the risks involved.
It is also a good idea to post signs indicating your pool’s depth. This can warn your guests not to dive in headfirst.
Always Supervise Guests – A homeowner can be liable for a guest drowning or injuring themselves in the pool, especially if the guest is a child. It is important to keep a watchful eye and have flotation devices and any other rescue gear nearby.
Maintain the Pool Properly – Always be sure to keep the area surrounding the pool and the pool itself in top working condition. Be sure the pool is filled to the correct depth and isn’t to shallow, otherwise you may be liable for someone injuring themselves jumping in. Ensure that surfaces surrounding the pool don’t become slippery, this can cause falls that may even lead to drowning.
Have Flotation Devices Close by – In some cases, it can possibly be shown that you did not take the necessary precautions by providing accessible flotation devices. This could make all of the difference in an emergency situation.
Protect Unwanted Guests
Depending on the circumstances, even a trespasser may have a case against you if they are injured on your property. This is especially true of children since a pool can be seen as an attractive nuisance. This means that a child may be attracted to this area who is too young to understand the dangers of the swimming pool.
Build a Fence Around the Pool Area – By building a fence with a locked gate around the pool, you are showing that you are making an attempt to keep out unwanted visitors. By ensuring the gate is locked, you will also be preventing children from wandering onto your property.
Post Signs on the Outside of the Pool Area – No trespassing signs and signs that tell a swimmer to swim at their own risk should be posted so they are visible to someone who may want to get in.
Contact an Experienced Premises Liability and Personal Injury Lawyer
Whether you are being sued for an injury on your property or you have been injured due to a property owner’s negligence, contacting a lawyer who specializes in premises liability and personal injury cases is advisable.
Thomas D. Bumgardner has years of experience handling cases of these nature in the Charlotte area. Give Thomas a call to discuss your case free of charge – (704) 870-4779.