Most of New York’s outdoor pools won’t open for another few months but there are still plenty of indoor pools you can use. Teaching your child how to swim can save their life, yet what if they are injured or killed in the process?
If something goes wrong because of someone else’s mistakes, you will want to hold someone responsible. How do you do that?
The first step is to realize the accident probably could have been prevented
To make a personal injury claim for a pool accident you have three basic options to look at:
- Product liability: If your kid got sucked into a faulty pool filter this might be an option. In effect, you need to go after the manufacturer who built and sold the unsafe product.
- Negligence: This might be an option if your child drowned while in swimming lessons. The teacher had a duty of care toward them, and failing to notice your child had gone under means they neglected their duties. It might also be an option against any lifeguard on duty at the time.
- Premises liability: If people have a swimming pool they need to make sure it is safe. Clearly, water is a danger in itself, so owners cannot eliminate all risks. They must however do their best to minimize it. Things you would expect are depth markings, fences and adequate maintenance of the area.
You will be going through a rough time if your child is injured or killed in a pool. Finding out how to fight for compensation can’t alter what happened but it can ensure the medical bills do not come out of your pocket and provide some compensation for any loss.