It is summertime in Michigan, and swimming pools are a popular source of fun and relaxation. But the summertime fun can quickly turn tragic when someone is injured or killed in a swimming pool accident. In the United States, nine people die from drowning every day. Drowning is the second most common cause of death for children under age 14.

If your family suffered the trauma of severe injury or the tragic loss of a loved one in a swimming pool accident, the swimming pool accident attorneys at Muth Law, P.C., can help. For more than 40 years, our lawyers have represented people and families throughout Michigan whose lives have been affected by serious injuries and wrongful death. To put our expertise to work for you, contact us today to schedule a confidential appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

Common Types of Swimming Pool Accidents

Many non-fatal injuries caused by swimming accidents require medical treatment. If your injuries resulted from negligent conduct by the pool owner, you and your family may be entitled to compensation.

Drowning or Near-Drowning

Drowning is the second leading cause of death in the United States among children under 14. Drowning or near-drowning can happen for many reasons, including lifeguard negligence, drain entrapment, or accidents involving pool toys. Non-fatal drowning can cause severe brain injuries if the victim is deprived of oxygen for too long.

Fall Injuries

Wet surfaces can cause slips and falls that can lead to cuts, lacerations, broken bones, and head injuries. Many of these injuries require medical attention.

Electrical Malfunction

Frayed electrical wires or short circuits in wet areas can cause electrocution, which can cause serious injury or even death.

Diving and Sliding Injuries

Swimmers who enter the water from a slide or diving board are at increased risk of injuries, such as cuts and lacerations, spinal cord damage, or traumatic brain injury. Damage to the brain or spinal cord can result in permanent, life-altering cognitive damage.

Improper Water Maintenance

When pool owners or operators fail to properly maintain chemical levels or use defective cleaning equipment, swimmers may experience chemical burns or infections.

Proving Liability for Swimming Pool Accidents

Injuries or death caused by a swimming pool accident fall under Michigan premises liability law, which states that swimming pool owners have a legal duty to ensure the pool is safe for users. Swimming pools are considered an “attractive nuisance,” and property owners have a legal duty to anyone who enters the property, including child trespassers. They can be held liable for a hazardous condition the property knew or should have known about.

Property owners who have a pool, whether it is a community swimming pool, a hotel pool, or a pool at a private club, have a legal duty to provide a safe environment for anyone who enters the property. Pool owners must:

• Ensure the pool is safe for swimmers;
• Take appropriate precautions to prevent unauthorized people from entering the pool by using a fence, barrier, or pool cover;
• Maintain the pool in good condition;
• Post warning signs about the risks of a swimming pool.

Pool owners who fail to adequately maintain the pool, provide appropriate safeguards, or post warning signs about the dangers of the pool can be held liable for injuries or death caused by a swimming pool accident.

How the Swimming Pool Accident Attorneys at Muth Law Can Help

If you were injured or someone you love died in a swimming pool accident, the swimming pool accident attorneys at Muth Law can help. Our lawyers will carefully evaluate your situation, calculate your family’s economic and non-economic damages, and work to negotiate a favorable resolution with the pool owner and their insurance company. If a satisfactory resolution is not forthcoming, we have the skills, experience, and resources to take your case to court to fight for the compensation you and your family deserve.

Muth Law is based in Ann Arbor and proudly represents people who were injured and families of people who were killed in swimming pool accidents throughout Michigan. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help. Call us anytime at 734-481-8800, email info@muthlawpc.com, or complete our online form.