How To Deal With The Hazards Of Swimming Pool Injuries In North Carolina?

A recent near-drowning at a North Carolina waterpark serves as a reminder of the issue of swimming pool injuries.

Recent Near-Drowning Highlights Safety Concerns Surrounding Swimming Pools

As WNCT 9 News recently reported, a young man on a field trip was nearly drowned in a lap pool at a Kinston waterpark. While the boy’s family and the city continue to investigate how the tragic incident happened, the case is a reminder to all parents of the dangers posed by swimming pool injuries during the hot summer months. When a child is injured in a swimming pool accident, parents are understandably anxious to make sure their children receive the care and treatment they need. After the initial shock, however, questions about premises liability and how parents are going to pay for their children’s recovery may also rise.

Types Of Swimming Pool Injuries

Swimming pools pose a number of hazards for all people, but especially so for children. Aside from the obvious threat of drowning, pools can also lead to other, less foreseeable types of injuries.

For example, a child may be injured while jumping from a diving board or because of a faulty suction tube in the pool. Some injuries may not even occur in the pool itself. A slippery walkway around the pool can lead to a slip-and-fall accident that can result in serious and, at times, devastating injuries.

Compensation For Swimming Pool Injuries

In cases involving serious injuries, the medical bills faced by parents can be dauntingly high, especially if the accident led to the brain or spinal injuries. In some instances, issues of liability may be at stake and parents may want to consider legal avenues to help deal with the cost of their child’s recovery.

The North Carolina case of Royal v. Armstrong established that a person, such as a neighbor, who offers their pool for use by children, can be held liable if he or she fails to provide a safe environment for the children. These types of liability issues can include failing to monitor children using a private pool and failing to make sure a pool area is safe for children. While many parents are understandably reluctant to launch legal action against a close neighbor, such parents should understand that these types of liability lawsuits also involve the neighbor’s insurance company.

Additionally, issues about product liability may also come up, such as a faulty diving board or improperly installed pool. In these sorts of cases, the manufacturer or installer of the equipment may be held liable for the injuries sustained by a child.

Legal Representation

No matter the circumstances involved in a swimming pool injury, parents should contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss what legal options are available. An experienced lawyer can inform parents of what liability issues may be at stake in a given case and whether legal action can be taken in order to pursue vital compensation to help an injured child recover from his or her injuries.