Swimming pool accident claim solicitors

What types of hazards can cause a swimming pool accident?

From speaking to individuals who've been involved in swimming pool accidents, we know there are many potential causes. Some of the hazards that lead to injuries include:

• Inadequate lighting around the pool
• Loose or damaged tiles 
• Lack of appropriate depth markers
• Faulty drains
• Contaminated water
• Faulty pool lights
• Chlorine accidents
• Inadequate lifeguard staffing

What types of injuries can you get in a swimming pool?

Swimming pool operators must ensure that a pool is safe for use. Here are a few examples of injuries caused by swimming pool negligence: 

• Head, neck and hand injuries: These injuries could be sustained in many scenarios, such as after a fall, via poorly maintained equipment, or in a swimming pool valve accident. The latter occurs when the drain's suction is so strong that it pulls you in by your hair or jewellery. A suction injury can be particularly damaging for a child, due to their lighter body weight.
• Irritation caused by chemicals: An accident may occur if chlorine is stored incorrectly at the swimming pool. Chlorine must be inaccessible to the public and kept away from any acidic substances so they don't mix and create chlorine gas. Chlorine gas inhalation can harm the eyes, skin and upper respiratory tract.
• Brain injury: You could sustain a head injury in an accident at the swimming pool. Slipping on an unsafe surface or diving in an area that has deceptive depth markers can cause this. 
• Cuts: Unfortunately, people sometimes cut a foot or toe in swimming pool facilities. The pool operator must show the correct safety signage to reduce unsafe behaviours, such as running around the perimeter. Unsecured pool ladders, broken tiles or overcrowding can also lead to incidents like this.
• Spine injury: Sustaining a spinal cord injury in a swimming pool can be very serious. It can be caused by a slip, trip or fall. It may also happen if you dive into water that is too shallow. Swimming pools should have clear signage to avoid diving accidents by indicating where it's unsafe to dive.

How do I know if I can make a swimming pool injury claim?

The best way to find out is by speaking to us. If you have reason to believe that somebody else's negligence caused your swimming pool accident, call us on . No matter the severity of your injury, our friendly experts are here to listen with patience and understanding. 

Once they've heard your story, they'll let you know if they think you have a case to make a swimming pool injury compensation claim. 

Find out more about making a claim with us.

How much compensation could I be entitled to?

Swimming pool injuries vary widely in their severity and nature, so it's hard to say what your claim could be worth. 

We can tell you how your compensation will be calculated, though. For swimming pool accidents caused by negligence, our no win no fee lawyers aim to secure you a compensation package that can help get your life back on track. 

There are two key aspects in the amount of compensation you're awarded: 

1. General damages: Based on the physical and psychological suffering that your incident caused you.
2. Special damages: Specifically related to the financial losses incurred because of your swimming pool injury. Loss of earnings, medical expenses and time spent travelling to medical appointments all come into it. 

Swimming pool accident lawyers use the Judicial College Guidelines for baseline figures when calculating the compensation you could claim for your injuries.

Can I still claim if my swimming pool accident happened on holiday abroad?

Using a swimming pool is a common pastime for many holidaymakers. If you end up sustaining an injury while on holiday, it's a good idea to start by complaining at the hotel or resort directly. Record all details about the incident as soon as you can. Photos of the part of the pool where you were injured could also go a long way.

Claiming for something that happened abroad can sometimes be trickier. Claims are usually subject to the laws of the country you were in at the time, and this can influence the compensation amounts. 

However, it's still possible to speak to a lawyer about claiming for a swimming pool injury that happened abroad. Please don't hesitate to call and speak to us about it. 

Who is to blame for a swimming pool injury?

If you're considering claiming compensation for an injury in a swimming pool, you should know who the responsibility lies with. 

In the UK, the pool operator would generally be held liable if they failed in their duty of care to you. They're responsible for maintenance and safety precautions around the pool. 

The pool operator could be a school, hotel, local council or leisure centre. Even if the pool was owned privately, you may be able to claim. It's always worth having a conversation with us about it. 

Can I claim if my child was injured in a paddling pool?

If the paddling pool belonged to a larger swimming pool complex, the operator should still have done a thorough risk assessment to eliminate certain risks. 

They should have examined the health and safety guidance on swimming pools and applied any elements that are relevant to paddling pools. The relevance of the guidance depends on the circumstances, but you may have a valid swimming pool accident claim if we can prove that negligence caused the incident. 

It should be noted that it is not always possible to prove negligence when comes to freestanding paddling pools in a public park, however.

Why choose National Accident Law for your swimming pool accident claim?

Our mission is to help people like you get timely, skilled legal help for your personal injury claim. We're here to give you the legal expertise you're looking for - our solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by The Law Society and we're registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

We'll always communicate with you in plain English and there's minimal paperwork required due to our easy-to-use systems.

With years of experience behind us, you can rest assured that you're in capable hands when you come to us about your personal injury experience.