What Happens if I Slip and Fall at a Public Pool in Philly?
If you slip and fall at a public pool in Philly, you may suffer critical injuries and be entitled to compensation for your damages if the pool owner’s negligence caused the accident.
Public pools throughout Philadelphia are some of the best ways to spend your summer days. You can spend Saturday afternoons lounging by the pool while your kids play with pool noodles, practice their underwater acrobatics, and learn to swim without support. Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents at public pools are extremely common and may cause debilitating injuries or even death.
If you are seriously injured in a slip and fall accident at a public pool in Philly, you may require legal advice and support. A top-rated Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer from Bonner Law can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Continue reading to learn more about the steps you will take in the aftermath of your slip and fall accident.
Steps to Take Immediately After Your Slip and Fall at a Public Pool
Your initial steps immediately after the slip and fall could have a substantial impact on the outcome of your future claim. You should do everything possible to remain calm. Contact emergency responders and law enforcement officials to file a police report.
Gather Supporting Evidence
While you wait for the ambulance and police to arrive, now is a good time to collect evidence. Take photos of the injuries you or your child sustained. Get the names and contact information of anyone who may have witnessed the accident as well. With this information, your personal injury attorney can reach out to them and request a deposition should your slip and fall case go to trial.
It may also be in your best interests to take photos or video footage of any hazardous conditions that may have contributed to the slip and fall accident. For example, if you noticed that there are no warning signs that discourage users from running or that there are wet patches poolside that aren’t draining, these could be valuable evidence to support your case.
Get Medical Help
If you initially believe your injuries are minor, do not make the mistake of failing to obtain medical treatment. At the very least you need a medical evaluation to rule out any invisible injuries. If you do not get medical help, expect the defense to pounce on this as a way of arguing that your injuries may not be as serious as you claim.
Consult Our Slip and Fall Attorneys
Once you are stable, your next call should be to a slip and fall accident attorney in Philadelphia. Bonner Law has the trial experience and legal knowledge you need to win. We can put our resources to work for you and build a compelling case against the liable party that requires them to compensate you for the total value of your damages.
Inform Pool Management Staff
Once we start working on your case, we will need to make sure the pool management team or public pool staff are informed so an accident report can be filed. We will request a copy of this report so we can introduce it as evidence to support your case. We will also be able to determine whether the operator, owner, or another third party is at fault after our investigation is completed.
We Need to Identify the Cause of Your Poolside Slip and Fall Accident in Philly
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 12,800 accidents involving children at public pools across Pennsylvania in 2022. Identifying the cause of your slip and fall at a public pool will be our top priority. Some of the most common causes of these injuries include:
- Uneven surfaces
- Wet surfaces
- Failure to clean up dangerous conditions
- Insufficient lighting
- Lack of sufficient barriers or warning signs
- Lifeguard negligence
Depending on who is found liable, there are several potential ways you may be able to recover the compensation you deserve. If the pool owner or the city of Philadelphia is at fault, you may be able to file a claim with their insurance company to recoup certain types of covered losses. Remaining damages can be demanded through your premises liability lawsuit at trial.
You May Be Accused Of Sharing Fault for Your Slip and Fall at a Philadelphia Public Pool
It should come as no surprise if the liable party blames you. After all, since Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence laws under 42 Pa. § 7102 at a 50% threshold, if you share the blame, the defendant does not have to compensate you in full for your damages. Your settlement will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of partial fault. For instance, if you are deemed 10% at fault for your injuries, you would only recover 90% of your award.
We Must Review the Value of Your Slip and Fall Damages
You have the right to total compensation for your damages. Every single loss should be taken into account when we calculate the value of your personal injury claim. Potentially recoverable economic and non-economic damages could include:
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical bills
- Physical discomfort
- Mental anguish
- Inability to complete daily living tasks without support
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced earning potential
- Hospital bills
- Prescription drugs and co-pays
- Physical therapy and mental health counseling
- Medical devices, supplies, and equipment
- Loss of income and earning potential
- Long-term or permanent disability
- Disfigurement or skin scarring
Contact a Dedicated Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia for Help Today
You should be able to enjoy Philly’s public pools with your family without worrying about severe bodily injury or death. If you or someone you love was critically injured in a slip and fall, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. With help from a highly skilled Philadelphia slip and fall attorney from Bonner Law, you can make the liable party pay.
When you are ready to find out how much your claim is worth and how to go about recovering the compensation you are due, do not hesitate. Reach out to our law office to request a free, no-obligation consultation today. You can complete our secured contact form or call us to schedule yours as soon as today.