Understanding Swimming Pool Cases: Safety and Legal Implications
A jury has awarded $3.8 million to the family of a former Alabama State University football player who died after an incident at a hotel swimming pool. The lawsuit alleged that employees at the Rodeway Inn in Montgomery allowed 19-year-old Derrick Marshall to use the pool even though it had been shut down by the county health department. It took more than 10 minutes to find Marshall after he began drowning in the cloudy water, family members said. Marshall was left in a vegetative state and died several months later.
Swimming pools can be very dangerous, and this tragic case highlights how quickly accidents can happen. Swimming pool cases like this often involve factors such as cloudy water, which makes it difficult to see a swimmer in distress. Pool drains have also been the source of significant litigation, particularly involving children, as suction can trap a child at the bottom of a pool, making it impossible to escape.
Newer swimming pool systems are designed with multiple drains to prevent these types of tragedies. Additionally, if a pool is not properly secured with fences, children or others who are not strong swimmers may find themselves in danger. In these situations, the property owner can be held liable.
As demonstrated by this example, swimming pool cases are serious legal matters that require careful attention to safety and liability. As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns regarding swimming pool or other injuries.
Law firms like Frenkel and Frenkel are available to provide guidance and support for families dealing with such injuries. As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns regarding swimming pool or other injuries.