Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer in Columbia, SC

Swimming pool accidents happen quite often in South Carolina. These accidents are particularly common amongst children ages 0-4 and can occur at private or public pools. Many times, these accidents are caused by negligence and could have been prevented. Pool owners have a legal duty to protect guests and uphold specific safety standards, and when failure to do so causes an accident or injury, a Columbia swimming pool accident lawyer can walk you through your options under South Carolina law. 

If you or a loved one was involved in a swimming pool accident that led to injury, the award-winning Columbia premises liability attorneys at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC are here to help you seek justice and compensation. We will aggressively fight for you and your family, while working to prevent these incidents from happening again in the future.

Columbia, SC Swimming Pool Injury Cases We Handle:

The experienced injury lawyers at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC handle many types of swimming pool injury cases, such as:

• Diving Board Injuries: When diving boards are not installed properly or not properly maintained, what should be an exciting element of a pool can turn dangerous and cause injuries such as head injuries, spinal injuries, and more.

• Diving Accidents: Diving into shallow water is dangerous and can cause the diver to hit their head on the bottom of the pool. Resulting injuries can be catastrophic.

• Slip and Fall Accidents: Slip and falls are common in pool areas, as the water can cause slick surfaces. However, the grounds around pools should be textured and with proper drainage. Falls can cause broken bones, sprains, and more.

• Pool Drain and Entrapment Injuries: When drains are not installed properly or become defective, they can trap swimmers, leading to internal injuries and even drowning.

• Electrocution: Appliances or faulty equipment wiring may electrify the water. If a swimmer comes in contact with electrified water, it can cause electrocution, electric shock drowning, and more.

• Chemical Burn Injuries: Chemicals such as chlorine are used to keep pools clean and help prevent corrosion, but can cause serious burns to the skin, eyes, and more.

• Inclement Weather: Inclement weather, such as lightning, can cause injuries should lightning strike while people are still swimming.

• Drowning Accidents: Drowning accidents can occur due to a variety of circumstances, including a lack of supervision, entrapment, overcrowding, missing fences, and much more. 

Whether the accident occurred at a public swimming pool, or a private pool such as a hotel or residential pool, an experienced Columbia swimming pool accident attorney can help you understand your options under South Carolina law. During your free case evaluation with our lawyers, we will discuss what happened, who may be held liable, the compensation available to you, and the personal injury claims process.

If you have any questions about a swimming pool accident or drowning case, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today. We’re here to help. 

Investigating Negligence in Swimming Pool Accident Cases

Throughout our decades of combined experience handling personal injury cases throughout South Carolina, pool injuries and drownings are commonly caused by some form of negligence. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Inadequate supervision by staff or adults
• Lack of qualified lifeguards on staff
• Lack of life-saving or first-aid equipment 
• Improper installation
• Lack of proper maintenance
• Failure to properly treat water
• Poor lighting
• Inadequate security
• Overcrowding
• And more

When negligence plays a part in a swimming accident or drowning, South Carolina law is designed to help you get justice by filing a personal injury claim seeking compensation for your damages. Many times, the parties involved will not make this recovery process easy for you and without a premises liability lawyer on your side, you risk being lowballed and taken advantage of.

At Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, our reputable pool accident lawyers offer free case evaluations, meaning you owe us nothing to speak with an experienced lawyer and get guidance on your options. To get a free case evaluation with our Columbia swimming pool injury and drowning lawyers, simply call (803) 888-2200 or complete our secure online contact form and a member of our team will reach out shortly.

Compensation Following a Swimming Pool Accident

While filing a personal injury case cannot go back in time and prevent the accident from occurring in the first place, it can bring a sense of closure and help prevent similar accidents from happening again. The Columbia personal injury claims process helps those who have been injured get compensated for all related damages. This includes, but is not limited to, seeking compensation for:

• Medical Bills: Including any emergency room care costs, doctor bills, hospital bills, surgeries, medication costs, physical therapy, and related expenses.

• Lost Wages: Including reduced earning capacity.

• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for high levels of stress, anxiety, lack of enjoyment, and more.

• Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are designed to discipline a defendant if their behavior was deemed reckless or illegal. This may be applied to swimming pool accidents depending on the factors of the case.

If the accident resulted in the loss of life, you may be able to seek additional compensation through a wrongful death claim. This includes compensation for:

• Funeral Expenses
• Burial Costs
• Loss of Consortium
• Mental anguish
• And more

For more information about what you may be entitled to and how much your South Carolina swimming pool accident case may be worth, please reach out to our team today. We’re here to help.

Statute of Limitations for Columbia Swimming Pool Accidents

In South Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, if the swimming pool was owned by a local government, you have only two years to file.

It’s critical to keep in mind that optimizing your case and claim can be a time-consuming process. It’s best to get started on the process as soon as possible. There are many benefits to acting fast – we can obtain and secure evidence that proves negligence at the time of the accident – such as an uneven floor or faulty part before it is altered. In addition, witness testimony is more fresh in the time immediately following the accident and more.

To get started on the road to recovery and justice, contact our team today.

Contact Our Columbia Swimming Pool Accident Law Firm Today

The friendly, experienced lawyers at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC are here to help you recover physically, financially, and emotionally following an unexpected accident and injury. With decades of combined experience, our team has the resources and experience needed to optimize your claim. Let us get you the entirety of what you’re owed under state law for the best future. Don’t wait. Call our law firm today at (803) 888-2200 for a secure, free case evaluation directly with an attorney.