A Georgia homeowner may feel lucky to have a backyard pool when the weather starts heating up. While swimming pools can be a lot of fun for people of all ages, owning a pool is a serious responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. If someone is injured or drowned in a private pool, the owner of the pool could be liable for the accident.
Swimming pool owners have a legal responsibility to ensure that their guests are not exposed to hazardous conditions while swimming and walking around the pool. Pools must be treated with chemicals so that bacteria does not make pool guests sick, and pools should contain easy-to-reach poles and flotation devices for swimmers’ safety. Just in case there is a medical emergency at a pool, pool owners need to be trained in CPR.
Pool owners are not only responsible for ensuring the safety of their guests during swimming season. When pools are not being used, they should be guarded on all sides with a fence. The owner of an above-ground pool should remove the steps that are used to reach their pool when the pool is not in use. Safety measures like these can help to ensure that a pool does not become an attractive hazard that could pose a danger to children.
Premises liability lawsuits are grounded on negligence, and one that is filed against the owner of a swimming pool by a person who has been injured would allege that the owner failed to provide the requisite duty to keep guests safe and free from hazards. If successful, an attorney for an injured victim could seek compensation for medical expenses and other applicable amounts.