Summer is in full swing, and adults and children throughout Tennessee will be taking advantage of private and community swimming pools for a break from the heat and humidity. Unfortunately, not everyone who will get in a pool this summer will be an expert swimmer, and swimming pool users are being advised to use extra care around the water this summer, particularly when in the company of young children, in order to prevent deadly swimming pool accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Tennessee swimming pool accident that you believe was caused by the negligence of the pool owner, contact our qualified attorneys at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to discuss your legal options. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and medical bills, which you can pursue by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the person or party found at-fault in the accident.
According to a recent report from the New York Times, drowning is the second leading cause of death among children ages one to 19. This statistic is particularly alarming considering the percentage of children and young adults who have access to backyard and community swimming pools, as well as lakes, ponds, the ocean and other bodies of water. Just this week, a six-year-old boy died after being found face-down in the pool at a community recreational center in Collegedale, Tennessee, where no lifeguards were on duty at the time of the accident. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voiced concerns about pool safety as well in May 2013, warning that children younger than five represent more than 75% of all pool and spa submersion deaths, and children younger than 15 account for 78% of all pool and spa submersion injuries in the United States.
“Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4 and minority children drown in pools at an alarming rate,” Chairman of the CPSC, Inez Tenenbaum, recently said. “The lives of countless children can be saved this summer. Take simple safety steps today – teach all children to swim, put a fence around all pools, and always watch children in and around the water.” By installing a four-foot fence with a childproof latch around the pool area, owners of backyard swimming pools can significantly reduce the risk of drowning accidents, injuries and fatalities. Unfortunately, when pool owners fail to take these simple safety steps, the results can be devastating for pool accident victims and their families. If your child died in a drowning accident in Tennessee, consult our reputable lawyers at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to discuss the possibility of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the allegedly negligent person or party.
Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2013/Pool-Safely-Call-to-Action/