For all the fun that swimming pools can provide, they also represent danger, especially for children. According to the National Safety Council, more than 7,000 people died from drowning every year.
Nothing is more important than the health and safety of children. Ultimately, our personal injury lawyer adds, parents can provide the best protection against swimming-related accidents with their watchful eyes.
Property Owner Law
But under the law, property owners are charged with keeping their pool area safe. The owners of the pool must install a fence, at least 4 feet tall, with a gate that latches surrounding the pool.
Additionally, pools must be covered with tops that also latch. Also, they should be equipped with an alarm system that notifies the owner of the movement near the pool.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children 15 and under. The National Safety Council has found that 5,000 children under 14 are hospitalized for near-drowning events every year.
Summer days spent in and around the pool can create memories that last a lifetime. But just a few moments of carelessness or inattention can turn pleasure into tragedy.
To help prevent tragic accidents in New Mexico, never allow children to swim unattended. Bear in mind that a young child can die in as little as 5 minutes in as little as 2 inches of water.
Drowning and near-drowning incidents involving children are far too common.
States with a short window for outdoor swimming, such as Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois, are not immune to swimming pool accidents. Swimming pool accidents happen in every state across the country.
Those who have been injured or killed in a pool, due to the negligence of the property owner, might seek to take legal action. Victims are often entitled to reimbursement of medical expenses, lost wages due to missed work, and compensation for pain and suffering, past and present.
Only a New Mexico accident attorney with experience in personal injury cases can properly evaluate each situation. As with any legal matter, the specifics of the incident will shape the outcome.