Holding Businesses Accountable for Unsafe Pool Conditions
When families visit hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, or other commercial properties in Florida, they expect public pools to be safe. Unfortunately, this expectation is sometimes broken when businesses fail to maintain proper safety standards.
Each year, preventable drowning accidents and serious injuries occur because of commercial pool negligence. Property owners neglect maintenance, supervision, or fail to address unsafe pool conditions. These tragedies devastate families and raise questions about who is responsible when a commercial swimming pool accident occurs.
Florida premises liability laws hold businesses operating swimming pools accountable for pool security and maintenance, and the safety of guests and visitors. At Zimmet & Zimmet, our legal team has spent decades fighting for accident victims in Daytona Beach and across the Sunshine State. We have secured millions of dollars for families harmed by unsafe pool conditions. We are ready to help you pursue justice.
How Our Florida Drowning Accident Lawyer Can Help
Since 1975, Zimmet & Zimmet has been helping accident victims rebuild their lives throughout Florida. Our attorneys have dedicated their careers to helping people overcome severe injuries. We believe in putting the human element at the center of each case we handle.
When you walk through our door after a hotel pool drowning or other pool accident, we see you as a family member, a friend, or a neighbor who needs help and trusted guidance during a difficult time.
Our lawyers take time to listen to your story, learn what happened to the injured party, and discuss how this tragedy has affected your family. We talk about the emotional pain of losing someone, the financial strain of medical bills and lost wages, and the nights spent worrying about the future.
Our experienced personal injury lawyers will handle every aspect of your drowning accident claim, including the following steps:
- Conduct a thorough investigation into what caused the hotel swimming pool accident, including identifying non-obvious dangers or hidden dangers and gathering critical evidence from the pool area before it disappears. A review of the available evidence will allow us to determine what kind of claim you can file.
- Handle all communication with pool owners and their insurance providers so you can focus on healing.
- Work with financial planners and health care providers to document the full extent of financial losses, including the expense of future care needs
- Uncover all business liability insurance policies available to provide compensation
- Fight aggressively to maximize your recovery and be ready to take your case to trial if necessary to pursue just compensation
Donna Attisano shared her experience having Zimmet & Zimmet represent her: “Ron would call me & text me constantly with details and updates, and with this perseverance, settled my case in under a year of the accident for the maximum amount! Thank you, Ron, for all that you have done for me!”
Our compassionate attorneys never rush you through meetings or phone calls. As settlement negotiations proceed, your best interests guide every decision we make. We are experienced negotiators and settle most injury claims without going to trial. However, we are prepared to take your case to court to achieve full and fair compensation.
You pay no upfront legal fees when you hire Zimmet & Zimmet. We only collect payment if we recover money for your family. This contingency fee arrangement allows everyone access to quality legal representation, regardless of financial circumstances.
Understanding Business Responsibility for Pool Safety
Businesses that operate swimming pools in Florida carry significant legal responsibilities. Hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, water parks, and fitness centers must meet higher standards of care because they invite the public to use their facilities.
Commercial pools must comply with state and local codes to provide a safe environment for pool users. Pool owners must regularly inspect their pools and address potential hazards such as broken gates, malfunctioning pool drains, and poor lighting. Depending on the facility, operators may need certified lifeguards, emergency equipment, and clear warning signs.
Ongoing maintenance ensures barriers are secure, drains function, water chemistry is balanced, and equipment works properly. Proper supervision must match the expected users and potential risks. Failure to take reasonable safety measures can result in business liability for pool accidents and negligence claims.
Examples of Unsafe Pool Conditions Caused by Business Negligence
Business negligence creates hazardous conditions that can lead to drowning in hotel pools and serious injuries. Young children are naturally drawn to pools, so pool covers, alarms or other types of security are required to limit access. Missing or broken barriers, such as gates that fail to self-latch, allow unsupervised children access to pools and create an attractive nuisance.
Inadequate supervision also causes accidents when hotels and resorts operate pools without lifeguards or provide insufficiently trained staff. Pool equipment failures, including broken drains, faulty filtration, and poor lighting, increase risks.
Slippery deck surfaces can lead to falls, head injuries, and drowning if non-slip materials and proper drainage are not maintained. Improper chemical handling causes burns and respiratory issues. Structural defects, such as missing depth markings or a lack of gradual entry points, combined with insufficient warnings, frequently contribute to preventable drowning accidents.
How Negligence by Businesses Leads to Drowning and Pool Injuries
Commercial pool negligence creates predictable, preventable tragedies. Drowning can occur silently in under a minute, with irreversible brain damage within three to five minutes.
Liability may arise when inadequate barriers allow unsupervised access to a pool, such as unlocked gates or missing self-closing fencing. Drain entrapment can occur from uncovered or faulty pool drains that trap hair, limbs, or entire bodies.
Unsafe conditions also lead to hotel pool drowning or near-drowning incidents, often causing lifelong brain injuries, mobility issues, and costly care. Slippery surfaces and a lack of adequate warnings result in falls and traumatic head injuries. Businesses that fail to take reasonable care to prevent these hazards may be held liable for resulting injuries or deaths.
Proving Business Liability in Pool Accident Claims
Establishing business liability for pool accidents requires proving the pool owner was responsible for maintaining a safe pool, that the owner failed to fulfill their legal obligation, and that resulted in a serious injury or death. Florida law requires pool operators to maintain safe conditions, provide adequate security, and warn guests of potential hazards.
A breach of duty occurs when businesses fail to meet their legal obligations, such as failing to maintain barriers, having broken self-latching gates, or having expired certifications. Documentation, including photos, maintenance logs, staff training records, and witness statements, helps support claims.
Causation shows the negligence directly led to the accident, such as a broken gate allowing a young child to gain access to a hotel swimming pool and drowning. If you have lost a loved one in a pool accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost earnings, and emotional suffering. Near-drowning victims may be entitled to compensation for lifetime care, rehabilitation, and reduced quality of life.
Contact Zimmet & Zimmet for a Free Consultation
Businesses that operate swimming pools have legal obligations to protect guests and visitors. Commercial pools have known risks that require active management, proper maintenance, regular inspections, and adequate staffing. A pool owner’s failure in any of these areas can lead to serious injuries or drowning, and businesses can be held accountable.
At Zimmet & Zimmet, our dedicated attorneys help families across Florida hold negligent businesses responsible for pool accidents. With over five decades of combined experience, we have recovered millions of dollars for clients, while guiding families through their most difficult moments.
While no compensation can undo a tragedy, we fight to ensure families have the resources to move forward. Contact us for a free consultation.