According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 3,500 people die from unintentional drowning every year. Many of these accidents occur in swimming pools. While pools may not seem dangerous, they can lead to serious injuries if pool owners and guests are not careful. As a result, it is important to know how these accidents occur and what to do in the event of an injury. Read on to learn more about pool accidents in Pennsylvania.
How do Pool Accidents Occur?
Some pool accidents are caused by negligent swimmers, but many accidents are a result of negligent pool owners. Some examples of pool owner negligence include:
- Failing to use all compliant drain covers
- Failing to install all proper covers, barriers, alarms, and fencing around the pool area
- Swimming while under the influence, or allowing others to do so
- Failing to tell all guests that there is no safe diving area, or where the safe diving area is located
- Failing to ensure all children swimming are either tall enough to stand or are wearing proper floatation devices
- Failing to remove all portable ladders while the pool is not in use
- Failing to supervise small children in the pool, or leaving them unattended
How Long do I Have to File a Claim?
If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence, you may wish to pursue legal action. An injury can take a serious toll mentally, physically, and financially and you likely deserve compensation for these burdens. If you wish to take legal action, you will have to do so within a certain amount of time. This is because of the statute of limitations. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is generally two years. This means if you do not file your claim within two years of the accident, you will most likely be barred from suing. While two years may seem like a long time, it is easy to let important deadlines slip by when you are recovering from an injury. Reach out to an experienced attorney right away to avoid missing any deadlines.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pool accident, contact our skilled and dedicated firm today.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED PENNSYLVANIA FIRM
We understand that going through the legal system alone can be both confusing and highly stressful. That is why it is our job to help you through every step of the process ahead. For years, we have been helping clients throughout Lancaster County and its surrounding areas through a wide range of legal matters, including personal injury cases, criminal defense matters, family law issues, estate planning law matters, and more. If you need legal assistance, we are here to help. Contact Ilkhanoff & Silverstein today.
