Pools, though very enjoyable and wonderful to have in south Florida, can also be very dangerous to both young children and grown adults. It is estimated that it takes less than 5 minutes and under 2 inches of water for a child to drown. And every year there are hundreds of adults that suffer serious injuries at either private or public swimming pools.

When there is a swimming pool injury it is usually because there was either a faulty designed or constructed pool, or there were improper safe guards and security for the small children or the pool was improperly maintained.

Throughout the country, unfortunately, hundreds of children die each year in a pool related accident. It is estimated that most of these deaths occur to children under the age of 3. Further, hundreds of thousands of people are injured. Injuries can range from the not so serious taking in too much water while swimming, to improper chemicals or chemical maintenance in the pool, to more serious contusions, broken bones or more serious injuries such as paralyzation or coma.

The owner of the private pool or public pool does have responsibility. If you have been injured in a swimming pool accident, you should immediately contact either Andrew Alitowski or William Moore to assist you. We will assist you in getting the homeowner’s insurance information or the public facility or private facility’s insurance information so that medical bills do not over burden you.

A good website to assist you in securing and making your pool a safe and fun area for you and your family is the following. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/chdrown.html . In Florida statute 515.29 – Residential swimming pool barrier requirements outlines the current Florida law on securing your pool if there are minors in the household. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0515/Sec29.HTM .

If you have a similar scenario that you would like to find out the answers to, please call and speak to either attorney Andrew S. Alitowski or William Ryan Moore at 888-ASK-ANDREW (275-2637). We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are injured…Ask Andrew!!!