By San Jose Personal Injury Lawyer on May 15, 2012 -
At Van Der Walde & Associates, we understand the exciting opportunities that come along with summertime in Northern California, and an end to the cold weather means that families can once again experience the joy of using a swimming pool. Swimming is a great way to have fun, exercise, enjoy time with friends, and get some sun all at once, but those who are overjoyed to once again go swimming often neglect to remember the common dangers of swimming pools. Without regarding these dangers, a person could suffer serious injuries in a great number of different accidents.
As such, remember these common swimming pool hazards and make safety a priority for you and your family this summer.
- Slip-and-Falls: Water splashing from the pool can make the surrounding area slick, and if the nearby ground is not properly slip resistant, then those walking by may suffer a Northern California slip-and-fall accident and become seriously injured.
- Head Injuries: Swimmers must be especially careful when jumping in a pool. Depth markers should be present to warn of how deep the pool is at any location. If these are not present, a person may dive in and strike his or her head against the bottom.
- Drowning: The presence of water means that a drowning hazard is always present, but there are certain measures that can be taken against these incidents. All pools should have gates surrounding them to prevent children from reaching the pool on their own and large public pools should have lifeguards on duty. Additionally, slip-and-falls and head injuries can lead to drowning, so these incidents should always be prevented as best as possible.
The Santa Cruz swimming pool accident lawyers at Van Der Walde & Associates understand the devastating nature of such accidents and are here to help injury victims who suffer due to the negligence or recklessness of other parties. Finding proper compensation from at-fault parties and insurance companies is incredibly important in order to recover properly from injuries. For more information on how we can help, call (831) 440-3014. We wish you and your family a safe and happy summer!
By San Jose Personal Injury Lawyer on May 27, 2011 -
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) started off the summer and swimming season with a press event announcing its 2nd annual pool safety campaign “Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives,” a national public education campaign as well as the recall of approximately one million pool and in-ground spa drain covers.
The CPSC, along with a U.S. Olympic swimmer, urged both parents and children to be careful and attentive around spas and pools at a press conference at the Parkway Family Aquatic Center in Chula Vista, California. They reaffirmed the importance of swimming pool and spa safety by reporting recent nationwide statistics for child drowning, entrapments, and other pool-related incidents and injuries.
This is especially important as the result of the recall of about one million pool and spa drain covers produced by the following eight manufacturers:
- A&A Manufacturing of Phoenix, AZ
- Aqua Star Pool Products Inc., of San Diego, CA
- Custom Molded Products of Tyrone, GA
- Color Match Pool Fittings of Surprise, AZ
- Pentair Water Pool and Spa of Sanford, NC
- Hayward Pool Products of Elizabeth, NJ
- Waterway Plastics of Oxnard, CA
- Rising Dragon USA, of East Sweetwater, TN.
Most of the recalled drain covers were sold from December 2008 through April 2011, although the affected Pentair Water Pool & Spa drain covers were sold from June 2009 through April 2011.
These drain covers have been recalled after the discovery that they were improperly rated to take in the flow of water that would travel through the cover. This poses a potential entrapment hazard to swimmers, bathers, and especially young children who may inadvertently fall into or become submerged in a swimming pool or spa. Any pool-owning consumer, as well as pool builder and installer, that has one of the recalled drain covers must contact the manufacturer to remedy the situation. The drain cover will either be replaced or retrofitted. For more information, consumers may call the CPSC Drain Cover Recall Hotline at 866-478-3521 or visit the Drain Cover Recall website at www.apsp.org/draincoverrecall.
If you or your child was injured in a swimming pool accident as the result of a negligent pool owner or a defective pool product, your family may be entitled to compensation for your losses. The dedicated San Jose swimming pool accident attorneys of Van Der Walde & Associates, LLP, can help you understand your legal rights and advise you of the legal options available to you. Please call us today for a consultation at 877-862-6288.
