As a business owner, keeping informed about the finer points of employment law is important. If you're getting ready to hire your first employees, you need to be sure that you understand exactly what you can and cannot do. Don't risk getting yourself into legal trouble by asking the wrong question at the interview or making an off-hand comment that's considered legally unacceptable. I created this site to give you the basics of employment law expectations. I hope that the information here helps you to understand what you should and shouldn't do as you're interviewing and hiring your first staff members.
Irene Robertson
Swimming pools are both enjoyable and dangerous, especially for kids, which is why they are classified as attractive nuisances. Still, you may not be entitled to an automatic compensation if your kid is injured in a swimming pool. You will have to prove that the pool owners or managers were negligent, and the negligent caused your child's injury. Here are examples of how pool owner's negligence can lead to injuries:
The Pool Wasn't Properly Fenced
Swimming pools are inherently dangerous; they should be fenced so that kids can't access them without authorization. The fence should not just be a symbol; it should be effective in preventing unauthorized entry. For example, the fence should be high enough so kids can't jump over it and it should also be strong enough so that it can't be knocked down. Therefore, if a flimsy rope was "protecting" the swimming pool and your kid managed to lift and pass under it, you can successfully argue inadequate fencing.
The Pool Wasn't Properly Maintained
Swimming pools are only safe if they are properly maintained. Unfortunately, some people don't have the funds to maintain their pools properly or just don't care about doing it. You may find that the chemical ratio is so bad in a pool that it has allowed germs to thrive in the pool water. You may also find a pool with poorly insulated electrical connections that lead to electrical shocks of pool users.
The Pool Management Didn't Put Up a Proper Warning
Every pool should include warnings and instructions that enable people to use it safely. For example, there should be an indication of the depth of the pool to prevent people from swimming in depths they aren't accustomed to. There should also be warnings to indicate when the pool is under maintenance (making it unsafe to swim in) or the hours of operation (when people are allowed to swim).
The Staff Were neither Adequate nor Properly Trained
Staffing issues can also lead to swimming pool injuries. This is usually the case with private swimming pools, such as those in parks, condominiums or hotels. For example, if a park's lifesavers are too few to manage all the swimming pools, it may take them longer than usual to notice when a child is experiencing difficulties in the pool or drowning. Pool staff with inadequate training may not even notice when something is wrong with the pool.
As usual with those accused of causing accidents, expect the pool owners to put up a spirited defense. You don't have to worry about that if you have a personal injury lawyer working for you. Contact a law office like Buckley Law Office for more information and assistance.