Swimming Pool Safety - How to Protect Yourself from Personal Injury Lawsuits
Having a pool in your backyard is a great way to enjoy the summer and beat the Georgia heat. Having friends and family visit each weekend to BBQ and swim becomes the norm. But a pool also increases your liability. So, how can you protect yourself from personal injury lawsuits and still enjoy your pool?
Know Georgia Laws About Fences and Swimming Pools
It’s fairly common for people to know to have a fence around their backyard swimming pool, but do you know the rules for having a fence? There are laws and regulations about swimming pools. Understanding and adhering to these laws will keep others safe, and it will lower your chance of liability in case of an accident.
The fence must surround the pool on all 4 sides, but your house can count as one side - the only way to the pool is through a gate or your home.
The door in your home going out to the pool must have an alarm - a security alarm is always a good idea, but this way you can set the alarm to notify you if your child slips out the door.
Fences must have a gate that locks - these must automatically lock when the gate closes. Also, the lock should be 6 inches from the top of the fence.
The gate must swing outward and away from the pool - gates that open inward are easier for a child to jimmy the locks and sneak into your pool area unsupervised.
The fence should be at least 4 feet tall, begin no higher than 4 inches above the ground and the slats no more than 4 inches apart - you do not want a small child to climb under or through your fence.
The fence cannot have hand or footholds for climbing - a chain-link fence is not acceptable since these are easy to climb over. You must have something difficult so the neighborhood children can’t easily access your pool.
These are just a couple of regulations regarding the fence around your swimming pool. You can contact your county for a complete list of laws, rules and guidelines.
Let Your Kids Safely Enjoy Your Pool
Knowing that your children are home and in the backyard is often a huge sigh of relief for parents. A pool is not something you should fear. If the rules and laws are properly followed, a pool can be a great way to have some summer fun.
But the kids must have their own set of rules to follow. Simple rules such as keeping the walkways clear of toys and floats; you don’t want anyone tripping and falling into the pool. As with the rules at public pools, no running near the edge should be a rule at your home pool. Your children should always let you know who they invite over to swim. You need to know what children are playing on your property and in your pool.
See, those rules aren’t so bad.
How to Reduce Your Swimming Pool Liability Risk
Accidents happen. It’s a hard fact of life. But there are steps you can take to reduce those accidents. Here are 5 simple things you can do to help reduce your liability risk… while still enjoying your backyard pool.
Install a fence
Maintain regular maintenance of ladders and electrical
No slides or diving boards
Train members of your household in CPR and first aid
Verify your homeowner’s coverage
Even when you take all precautions, something might happen. But don’t worry, we are here for you if it does.
Working With SmithTaire Legal
Having a swimming pool in your backyard is a wonderful way to enjoy the warm months. It’s good to be careful, but you don’t need to be fearful. Especially when we are here for you. A personal injury attorney on your side is necessary when facing a pool lawsuit. We understand the law and can help protect you against a small accident becoming a huge personal injury case. We know that you are a responsible homeowner that puts safety first, and we will fight for you in court.
Gwinnett County Personal Injury Attorney Jamie Taire
Enjoying your outdoor pool shouldn’t turn into a legal nightmare. We are here to protect you against predatory lawsuits. SmithTaire Legal will fight to get you justice when dealing with a swimming pool accident in your home. We work with other attorneys to ensure you have a team working for you!
If someone is taking legal action against you regarding your swimming pool, contact the team at SmithTaire Legal. Schedule an appointment with us today. Or call us at 678-253-8133 to discuss your situation.