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The Risks of Owning a Pool

The Risks of Owning a Pool

Pool Owners are highly susceptible to facing personal injury lawsuits. This is because when safety is not held to the highest standards, people can sustain injury. In a pool setting, there can be a number of risks. As a homeowner, it’s important to act in accordance to ensure that guests are not injured during their visit. When a homeowner fails to uphold their duty of care, they may be liable for injuries in the event of an accident on their property. The following are the risks of owning a pool:

Drowning

One of the biggest risks of owning a pool is the possibility that someone may accidentally drown. Most worry about children in this respect. Pool owners should take care in ensuring that people are safe around the pool by instilling rules for guests to follow. Never leave children unattended in the pool. Always have a good idea of how well children can swim before allowing them to enjoy the pool. If children reside in the home, it may be a good idea to organize swim lessons for them to ensure water safety.

Pool Chemicals

Pool owners should take care in maintaining the pool. Part of this process involves treating the pool and cleaning it on a regular basis. Failure to do so may result in a pool with too many chemicals or, one that has not been treated with enough chemicals. The last thing anyone wants is to swim in a pool full of bacteria. This could increase the likelihood that guests become sick from the pool. 

Drinking

Although the consumption of alcohol can be an enjoyable experience, it can up the ante when it comes to guests engaging in risky behavior. As a result of alcohol, adults around the pool may not monitor children as closely as they should. At times, people behave irrationally or impulsively when under the influence, this could cause unnecessary accidents to occur. Limiting alcohol around the pool is always the safest option. 

Slip and Falls

Keep the property surrounding the pool well maintained. If there are cracks around the pool that are easy to trip on, a homeowner may want to repair them to prevent someone from getting hurt. Try to keep areas that collect water and may be extra slippery as dry as possible. Also, require that people do not run around the pool. 

Safety and Prevention

The last thing any homeowner wants to experience is an accident due to their failure to uphold their duty of care. Despite this, homeowners will want to take extra care and precautions when owning a pool. Having a pool can feel like having a resort in the backyard, don’t let a tragic accident shadow your ability to enjoy such a treat. Homeowners should take the following steps to help mitigate the risk of an accident or prevent its’ occurrence altogether:

  • Homeowners should ensure that their insurance policy covers pool related accidents
  • Homeowners should never leave young children unattended by the pool
  • Homeowners should be educated in CPR
  • When guests are visiting, go over the rules of the pool and ensure that they are followed
  • Install a fence around the pool to keep out unwanted visitors or children who may be attracted to the pool

There’s no reason why homeowners and their guests can’t safely enjoy the backyard pool. By taking certain steps towards safety, and making sure that expectations are communicated to guests, a homeowner may be able to mitigate the occurrence of an accident.

Enjoying a pool can be a wonderful experience, unfortunately, the joy of having backyard fun can quickly become tragic if a homeowner does not instill certain safety practices. If you have visited someone’s pool and were injured, or worse, it may be appropriate to take legal action. Contacting a personal injury attorney Washington, D.C., residents trust may be in your best interest.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Cohen & Cohen, P.C., for their insight into personal injury.