Hotel Pool Accidents Can Pose Risks to Tampa Vacationers

Hotel Pool Accidents Can Pose Risks to Tampa Vacationers

If you or a loved one has been injured or worse in a hotel pool accident, you already know how devastating these accidents can be. A serious incident can lead to broken bones, permanent brain or muscle damage, and even death.

The good news is that you may be able to recover some part of the value of what’s been taken from you in a personal injury case. Before we get into that, let’s go over some types of hotel pool accidents.

Types of Hotel Pool Accidents

Almost any type of injury could happen in a hotel pool, but the most common types are slip and fall accidents, drownings, and near-drownings. Here is a short description of some of the common types of hotel pool accidents:

  • Slip and fall injuries

Slip and fall injuries can occur because of wet surfaces in the pool area or simply because of children or adults running and tripping. These accidents could include bruising, broken bones, or even serious spinal injury in the case of a particularly unfortunate fall. Most injuries that happen around the pool involve small children, but adults can slip and fall just as easily.

  • Drowning

Drowning occurs when a person is unable to reach the surface of the pool, breathes in water, and dies as a result. While anyone can potentially drown in an incident, children are by far the most likely to drown in pools. A 17-year-old and her 12-year-old brother drowned in a Tampa hotel in 2017.

  • Near-drowning

Near-drowning occurs when an individual breathes in water, but is rescued before dying. This can lead to a serious need for medical care, including complications such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, brain damage, chemical or fluid imbalances, or (in the most extreme cases) a permanent vegetative state. Simply because someone survives a near-drowning incident doesn’t always mean they got off scot-free.

What Are the Hotel’s Responsibilities?

In the state of Florida, hotel pools are not required to have a lifeguard on duty. However, all public pools are required to have at least one 18-inch lifesaving ring and a shepherd’s hook attached to a pole at least 16 feet in length. If these are missing, a case of premises liability may exist.

In addition, the hotel has a responsibility to keep adequate maintenance of the pool and put up proper warning signage in case of possible hazards. In some cases a hotel may be responsible for putting up adequate safety fencing around the pool. A poorly-designed pool area may also give grounds for a premises liability case. However, the best way to know you have a case is to contact a pool accident lawyer as soon as possible.

WE WORK FOR YOU. WE FIGHT FOR YOU.

We know what your case is worth. We have the resources to conduct a thorough investigation to prove negligence and calculate damages for the devastation in your life. We are skilled in negotiations and fearless in big cases against powerful corporations and insurance companies. If you’ve been injured and need a pool accident lawyer, contact us today for a free case evaluation.