Florida Leads the Nation with Most Swimming Pool Injuries

From Markets Insider comes alarming news. According to an advisory from QuoteWizard, one of the country’s foremost online insurance marketplaces, Florida ranks #1 among the 50 states in pool injuries.

These numbers should be a wakeup call to homeowners to make sure that their pools are safe. Any safety lapse can lead to injuries, even death, and might cause homeowners to have to defend themselves in civil lawsuits for compensation.

At Bundza & Rodriguez, our Volusia County premises liability lawyers help our injured clients get compensation for their injuries. If you or your child has been injured in a public or private pool, you should contact us to schedule a free consultation.

Florida: Worse than California

Markets Insider shared key statistics around pool injuries. For example:

• For children under age 15, 42% of nonfatal injuries occurred in residential pools.

• For this same age group, 46% of all drowning fatalities happened in residential pools.

• The majority of injuries occurred in the summer months. June, July, and August accounted for 65% of all drowning injuries for children under 15.

When looking at the number of summer drowning fatalities in children under 15, Florida led the way:

• Florida: 21
• Texas: 21
• California: 21
• Arizona: 7
• Tennessee: 6
• Illinois: 6
• New Jersey: 5

How to Make Your Pool Safe

Homeowners’ have a duty to make their premises safe for visitors, such as social guests who decide to stop by. They also owe a duty to children in the neighborhood who might wander over, attracted to the pool. Even children who trespass are owed duties of care, and injured children can sue if they are injured in a swimming pool.

If you are a homeowner, you should remember the following:

• Florida law requires that you install at least one safety measure. This could be a fence around the pool, which must be at least 4 feet high, or it could be a pool cover. You should review the Florida law if you have not yet installed a pool or if you have just moved to Florida and have a pool at your home.

• Keep the pool area clear of obstructions, like children’s toys. Even adults can trip on these objects and end up falling into the pool. Elderly are also at risk of drowning, and they can trip over many objects.

• If people will swim in the pool at night, make sure there is adequate lighting. Light allows people to see where they are walking and also allows adults to properly supervise children in the pool.

• If you have guests come over to use the pool, go over basic safety features.

You also need an adult who can watch children swim in case a child gets into trouble and has difficulty keeping his or her head above water. This is always tricky for homeowners, who might be in and out of the house or engaged with social media.

Was Your Child Injured in a Pool? Contact Us

Swimming in a pool is a great way to beat the heat during the summer months in Florida. However, too many children are injured or killed in swimming mishaps.

If you or a child has been injured, contact an attorney at Bundza & Rodriguez, P.A. right away. You can schedule a consultation with a Daytona Beach personal injury lawyer by calling 386-252-5170.

Resource:

markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/quotewizard-advisory-warns-that-florida-texas-and-california-have-the-most-drowning-fatalities-in-the-nation-1028360929

https://www.daytonalawyers.com/young-child-drowns-in-daytona-beach-pool/