Our David W. Martin Accident & Injury Lawyers understand South Carolina pool drowning and near-drowning accidents are unexplainable tragedies that leave families devastated and searching for answers. Often occurring in an instant, these accidents can result in lifelong consequences or sudden loss of life, particularly when young children are involved.
Our South Carolina swimming pool accident and injury attorneys also know exploring liability in drowning and near-drowning accidents involves understanding how negligence and legal responsibility can factor into these tragic incidents and that going it alone is often too much for parents, family members, or injury victims to bear. We can help.
What are the Different Ways Swimming Pool Accidents, Injuries, and Fatalities Occur in South Carolina?
Swimming pool accidents, injuries, and fatalities in South Carolina can occur in several ways, often due to negligence, lack of supervision, and safety hazards.
Common causes include:
- Drowning and Near-Drowning Incidents: These incidents are often due to inadequate supervision, especially involving young children, or failure to follow safety regulations, such as a lack of lifeguards or pool fences.
- Slips and Falls: Wet surfaces around the pool area can lead to slip-and-fall accidents, which can cause injuries like fractures, head trauma, or spinal injuries.
- Defective Pool Equipment: Malfunctioning drains, filters, or pool heaters can lead to injuries or accidents, including entrapment and burns.
- Chemical Exposure: Improperly balanced chemicals in the pool water can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, or more severe health issues.
- Diving Accidents: Shallow water or inadequate signage warning of depth can result in serious injuries such as head trauma, spinal cord injuries, or paralysis from diving into unsafe areas.
- Electrocution: Poorly maintained pool lighting, wiring, or electrical equipment can create risks for swimmers.
- Lack of Barriers or Alarms: Failure to install safety barriers, pool covers, or alarms can allow unsupervised access to the pool, increasing the risk of accidents, particularly for children.
Each of these can lead to significant injuries and fatalities due to the inherent dangers of water and hazardous pool environments. These accidents, when preventable, can have devastating and lasting impacts on victims and their families.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Swimming Pool Accidents, Injuries, and Fatalities in South Carolina?
Depending on the circumstances, several parties can be held liable in South Carolina for swimming pool accidents, injuries, and fatalities.
- Property owners—private homeowners, landlords, or business owners like hotels and apartment complexes—may be liable if their failure to maintain safe conditions or follow safety regulations contributed to the accident.
- Pool operators or management companies can also be held accountable for negligence in supervising the pool, ensuring proper safety equipment, or maintaining the pool’s physical condition.
- Manufacturers or installers of defective pool equipment, such as faulty drains, ladders, or electrical systems, may face liability under product liability laws if their products contributed to the injury or fatality.
- Companies that do not provide adequate supervision, such as at public pools, lifeguards, or staff, could be responsible for failing to prevent an accident promptly.
Contact Our David W. Martin Accident & Injury Lawyers Today
Liability often depends on proving negligence and identifying the specific party whose actions or inactions led to the incident. Our David W. Martin Accident & Injury Lawyers in South Carolina help victims and their families pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages by enforcing our state’s premises liability laws.
Contact us today at (803) 302-3989 to learn more about your legal rights and options to hold the negligent party liable for your complete recovery needs. We provide free consultations for all South Carolina personal injury cases and never charge legal fees unless we deliver a positive outcome for your unique case.