An innocent day at the pool in Sandy Springs can quickly become tragic if a swimming pool accident happens. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), statistics show 39,500 people go to the emergency room each year for injuries involving below-ground pools; another 10,000 will seek treatment for above-ground pool injuries.
If you or a loved one was hurt at a pool, a Sandy Springs swimming pool accident lawyer can help. You may be entitled to compensation if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence. At John Foy & Associates, our swimming pool accident lawyers have been helping Georgians win the recovery they deserve for over 20 years.
What to Do After a Swimming Pool Accident in Sandy Springs
After a swimming pool accident, it’s important to gather as much information about the accident as you can. If you suspect or know someone else was at fault for your injuries, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate what happened and how it affected you. Here are some things we recommend doing if you can.
Call the Police
After an injury at a pool, call 911 to let the Sandy Springs police know. Swimming pool accidents can be serious and even fatal, especially if they involve drowning or severe falls. Make sure the accident is reported to law enforcement so they can assist at the scene.
Get the Owner’s Name
If the accident happens at someone’s private pool, make sure the property owner is aware of what occurred. If you don’t know them personally, ask for their name, and contact information.
If the injury occurred at a business or public pool, tell a manager or the responsible person at the scene that the injury happened. Get their name and contact information. Anyone who owns a pool in Sandy Springs is required to have insurance coverage, so you can ask for their insurance information too.
Identify Hazards and Take Pictures
After the accident, look at your surroundings. Identify any dangerous conditions or hazards that may have led to your swimming pool accident. If you have a phone or a camera on you, use it to take pictures of:
- What may have caused the accident
- Any visible injuries you have and
- The entire scene of the accident
If you need help documenting the scene, our investigators can help. Our team has years of experience gathering evidence of negligence in personal injury cases.
Talk to Witnesses
Swimming pools are often full of other people, especially during the warmer months. If other people were around to see your accident, ask for their contact information. It can really help your case to have witness statements supporting what you are claiming, so your lawyer will reach out to any witnesses later.
Get Medical Attention
Don’t neglect getting checked out by a medical professional after your swimming pool accident. If you are seriously hurt or injured, call for emergency medical treatment. Otherwise, see a doctor as soon as you can after leaving the scene.
Talk to a Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer in Sandy Springs
Finally, you’ll want to get an experienced lawyer on the phone as soon as possible. They can let you know how your case looks, help you gather information from the scene, and help you build a strong case to seek any compensation you deserve.
Get the strong arm
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Swimming Pool Accident?
If you have any suspicion that your swimming pool accident could have been caused by someone else’s negligence, then yes, it’s worth contacting a personal injury lawyer in Sandy Springs. A good attorney will help you get compensation without taking any fees upfront.
With our contingency fee policy, there’s no risk in hiring one of our lawyers. We don’t take any fees unless you win your settlement–that way, you don’t have to worry about paying for a lawyer if your claim isn’t going to be successful.
If you’re planning on taking your personal injury claim on alone, then it’s definitely worth rethinking. Without the help of a swimming pool accident attorney in Sandy Springs, you have a much higher chance of being taken advantage of by the other party’s lawyer and the insurance company.
It’s worth at least talking to our lawyers because they offer free initial consultations. At your first meeting, your attorney will listen to your story and tell you if they think you have a viable claim on your hands.
Damages You Could Recover for a Swimming Pool Accident
In any personal injury case, your compensation will be based on specific damages that you sustained because of someone else’s negligence. These can be both economic damages, which are financial costs that your injuries caused, or non-economic damages, which cover the other ways that your accident may have affected your life and state of mind.
In your swimming pool accident case, damages could include:
- Medical bills
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages due to an inability to work
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Wrongful death
To make sure you get every penny of what you deserve, your swimming pool accident lawyer in Sandy Springs will calculate both the damages that you’ve already suffered and those that you’re likely to pay in the future. Our team knows how to make sure the insurance company gives you what you’re owed.
Swimming Pool Requirements for Property Owners in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Public Health has certain rules that must be followed when it comes to swimming pools:
- Swimming pools must be completely fenced in, and the home can count as one side of a fence as long as the homeowner has an alarm installed on the home’s door leading out to the pool.
- Fences must be at least four feet tall and start no higher than four inches above the ground.
- Fences must also not contain chain link openings bigger than one to three-fourth inches in diameter or contain anything to allow someone to climb them.
- Any entries or gates to the pool must be able to open away from the pool.
Rules may vary slightly depending on where the homeowner lives. If you were injured at someone’s pool in Sandy Springs, a local swimming pool accident lawyer can help you know the proper laws and how they relate to your accident.
Where Swimming Pool Accidents Can Happen in Sandy Springs
When a swimming pool accident happens at the home of a family member or friend, the majority of drowning-related injuries, unfortunately, involve young children. That being said, anyone can become injured at a private pool
Swimming pool accidents can also happen anywhere a swimming pool is present, such as at a hotel or motel, country club, public swimming pool, or gym. No matter how your accident occurred, we know it can be uncomfortable to bring a case against the pool’s owner. However, it’s your legal right to recover for an injury or accident that someone else caused.
An experienced swimming pool accident lawyer in Sandy Springs will know how to navigate this delicate situation. They will also remind you that filing a claim is not meant to offend or point a finger at the property owner or homeowner.
The insurance claim should provide you with compensation for what you suffered, and it does not come out of the homeowner’s pocket, so many people are happy that they have coverage to help.
You Have Two Years to File a Swimming Pool Accident Case
Keep in mind that you have limited time to seek compensation after an accident at a swimming pool. The statute of limitations in Georgia is two years from the date of the accident, and that time goes quickly. In some cases, the deadline could be even shorter.
To make sure you stay on track and get the help you need, it’s best to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. People forget details and evidence can fade, so your Sandy Springs swimming pool accident attorney will need to get to work on your case as soon as they can.
Speak with a Sandy Springs Swimming Pool Accident Attorney for Free Today
The aftermath of a swimming pool accident can be devastating, confusing, and overwhelming. The Sandy Springs swimming pool accident lawyers at John Foy & Associates are here to help in every way possible. Let us give you a free consultation so we can discuss what happened and how we can assist you with the legal side of things.
Call us or contact us online to schedule your FREE, no-obligation consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form