Swimming pools, both above-ground and in-ground, are common in many Dallas neighborhoods. You may initially get a pool as a way to keep cool and entertain guests in the summer, but as too many pool owners learn, many of these pools have disastrous defects. A defective swimming pool can create dangers for guests and pool owners alike. If you or a loved one was injured by a defective pool on your own property or on someone else’s property, call an Arlington TX personal injury lawyer at The Queenan Law Firm for a free consultation on your case.
Types of Swimming Pool Defects in Texas
These defects are some of the common problems found in the installation or construction of swimming pools. Many of these can cause injuries under certain circumstances. Some of these mainly affect above-ground pools, while some primarily affect in-ground pools. For any pool defects, you may have a personal injury case if the defect causes you or a loved one any injuries.
1. Tears in Pool Walls
In some types of above-ground pools, the pool is made to be easily moveable, with semi-rigid walls made from thick, rubbery plastic. Some of these even have inflatable walls. In many of these designs, the water that fills the pool keeps the sides from collapsing, but there isn’t much else by way of structural integrity. If these walls are made of weak or thin materials, there is a chance that the wall could tear, and the pool could burst open.
This may seem fun, but it can cause serious injuries. The water in a pool can weigh thousands of pounds, and the sudden force of it can push or pull swimmers underwater. It can also push them out of the pool and into obstacles or objects surrounding the pool. If there are sharp or hard objects, swimmers and bystanders could be pushed into them, receiving lacerations, cuts, scrapes, blunt force trauma, back and spinal injuries, and serious traumatic brain injuries.
2. Bad Pool Installation
In other designs of above-ground pools, the walls and structure of the pool are more rigid and permanent. Many of these walls have plastic liners, and are held up by wooden, metal, and plastic supports. These pools should be less prone to collapsing, but human error can still cause problems.
If these pools are improperly assembled, defective, or improperly installed, they could cause some of the same injuries listed above. If a wall fails, it could cause water to rush out, injuring swimmers and bystanders. Many of these pools are larger than the semi-rigid, plastic pools, meaning gallons upon gallons of water could be forced out if the pool wall collapses.
3. Defective Pool Filters
Most pools have some sort of filtration system. Some pool filters use pressurized systems, where water and sand are flushed through the system as part of the filtration process. If there is an obstruction along the lines, bad sand, or there are oils or other materials in the filter, the lines could become clogged and pressure could increase drastically. In some cases, poorly built filtration systems may actually explode with the increased pressure. This could cause the tank to burst into shrapnel pits, causing serious injuries to anyone near the filter. Even if people are not swimming, exploding pool filters can be serious dangers.
4. Pump and Drain Suction
The suction on many pumps and drains needs to be very strong to move large quantities of water. However, many of these are too strong to be safe. If your pump or filter’s suction is set too high during installation, or the suction is too high due to defective manufacturing, people could be seriously injured. These drains are strong enough to cause serious injuries or death, especially for young children. The suction can be enough to pin weak swimmers to the bottom of the pool, causing them to drown. In some cases, there have even been injuries from the suction damaging the digestive tract of children who sit on the drain.
These evisceration injuries can be surprisingly serious for something that seems as benign as a pool drain. However, the injuries can cause permanent damage, and may require ongoing healthcare and feeding through IVs, possibly for the rest of the victim’s life.
5. Diving Board and Ladder Defects
There are dozens of ways to get in and out of a pool. Perhaps the safest way is to use the designated pool ladders or steps. In many above-ground pools, getting in without the ladder is nearly impossible – and so is getting out. If the ladder is improperly constructed, people may become trapped in the pool, or may suffer falling injuries if the ladder breaks on the outside of the pool.
Diving boards are often installed in many home pools, and have their own risks if swimmers are not careful. However, if the diving board is improperly installed, divers can be seriously injured through the diving board’s normal, intended use. This may be grounds to hold the installation company or manufacturer responsible for the injuries.
Swimming Pool Defect Attorneys in Texas
If you or a loved one was injured by a defective swimming pool, talk to a Texas personal injury attorney right away. The Dallas personal injury attorneys at The Queenan Law Firm, P.C., may be able to help you sue the pool parts manufacturer or the companies that improperly built or installed the pool. For a free consultation on your case, call (817) 476-1797 today.