Slip-And-Fall Pool Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents are among the leading causes of injuries among Americans. In fact, they result in over 8 million visits to the emergency room every year. These kinds of accidents can have serious consequences as well. They are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries, and cause hip and spine fractures in 87% of people over the age of 65. These risks are all increased during the summer, when wet surfaces by pools pose an ever-present risk to those walking nearby. If you have suffered an injury by slipping on a public or privately-owned pool deck or surface, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit to recover for the damages that you have suffered.
Can I Sue for a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
Whether you have standing to bring a lawsuit for a slip-and-fall pool accident depends on a number of factors. One of the primary factors that will be considered is what right you had to be at the pool. For instance, if you were trespassing on someone’s property and they were not even aware you were there when you slipped, the duty that they owe to you will be much different than the duty owed to a guest who was invited to someone’s home, or someone who is paying to be at the pool. Assuming you are not a trespasser, the owner of the pool owes you a duty of reasonable care. Any acts of negligence amount to a breach of that duty of reasonable care. For instance, if a pool owner failed to warn people about the slippery surface, either verbally or with a sign, or did not make any effort to mitigate the risk posed by the wet surface, they may be found negligent, because that would be unreasonable. However, if the pool owner had a wet surface sign displayed that could be seen, and was ignored, they would not be liable for someone’s injury because they took the reasonable precaution of warning about it. This may not be the case if the warning sign could not actually be seen before experiencing the risk. For instance, if you had to cross the wet floor before being able to see the sign, or if it was facing the wrong way. Other ways of mitigating the risk may include putting down rugs or towels, or having warnings and rules posted. If you are unsure whether you have grounds to bring a personal injury lawsuit to recover for an accident, it’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer so that they can review all the facts of your case. It’s also important to remember that you are not actually suing the property owner. In most cases, they have home owners or property insurance that exists to cover injuries and situations exactly like this.
Leifer & Ramirez Can Help
If you have suffered a slip-and-fall accident because of someone’s negligent pool maintenance, a personal injury lawsuit can help you become financially whole again. Contact the Boca Raton slip and fall lawyers at Leifer & Ramirez today and schedule a consultation to find out how we can help.
Source:
nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/
