Sacramento Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer

Swimming pool incidents that cause severe injuries or fatal drowning accidents can sometimes be prevented. When property owners fail to take reasonable precautions to protect pool users, such as restrict access to the pool with a fence or gate, they could be held liable for damages in a premises liability claim.

If you or a loved one were injured in a swimming pool accident that could have been prevented, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for medical expenses and other damages. Having a qualified attorney on your side could make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.

If you have any questions about your swimming pool accident claim, our lawyers at the Arnold Law Firm are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free case review with our licensed Sacramento personal injury lawyers.

What Should I Do After a Swimming Pool Accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, it’s important to act quickly to protect your health, safety, and legal rights. Whether the accident occurred on private property, at a hotel, or in a public facility, following these steps can help you build a strong foundation for a potential personal injury claim:

• Seek immediate medical attention: Your health is the top priority. Even if injuries seem minor, symptoms like head trauma, internal injuries, or water inhalation can worsen over time. A medical evaluation also creates important documentation linking your injuries to the incident.

• Report the incident: Notify the property owner, pool manager, or facility staff right away. If the accident occurred at a public or commercial pool, ask to complete or obtain a written incident report.

• Document the scene: Take photos or videos of the pool area, including any hazardous conditions such as broken equipment, lack of warning signs, slippery surfaces, or inadequate fencing. This evidence can be valuable for your claim.

• Gather witness information: If anyone saw the accident happen, ask for their name and contact information. Witness statements can help confirm how the incident occurred.

• Preserve medical records and receipts: Keep all documentation related to your medical treatment, including diagnoses, prescriptions, and bills. Also track any time missed from work due to the injury.

• Avoid discussing the incident with insurers: Don’t provide recorded statements or sign anything from an insurance company before speaking with a lawyer. Insurers may try to minimize your claim.

• Contact an experienced personal injury attorney: A qualified swimming pool accident lawyer can evaluate your case, identify liable parties, and help you pursue fair compensation for your injuries and losses.

If you’re unsure about your legal options, contact Arnold Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer.

Duty of Care When a Property Has a Swimming Pool

Homeowners and property owners have a legal duty of care to take reasonable steps to protect visitors who are legally allowed on the premises.

California’s Swimming Pool Safety Act sets various regulations property owners must adhere to when they have a swimming pool on the premises. For example, there must be 60-inch access gates for residential swimming pool enclosures along with self-latching locks that must be at least 60 inches from the ground. The outside surface of the enclosure must be free of items that could be used as a foothold or handhold, such as:

• Protrusions
• Cavities
• Other similar surfaces that could be used to aid climbing over the enclosure

Under the Swimming Pool Safety Act, suction outlets must be covered with anti-entrapment grates that cannot be removed unless tools are used.

California also sets various regulations (22 California Code of Regulations § 65535) for operators of pools open to the public. For example, operators must keep the following areas well-maintained:

If lifeguard service is provided, pool operators must ensure continuous surveillance of pool users. They must also wear swimming apparel that clearly identifies them as lifeguards.

Public pool operators must ensure a life ring with an attached throw rope is at the pool at all times. There must also be a fixed-length rescue pole with a permanently attached body hook.

If the property owner fails to follow these or other regulations and guests suffer injuries, the property owner could potentially be held liable for the damages suffered.

Other Entities That Could Be Liable for a Swimming Pool Accident

Sometimes, the property owner may share liability with other entities, including:

Government entities – If the accident occurred on government-owned property, your lawyer may be able to file a claim against them. However, filing a claim against the government is different from filing a claim against a private citizen. Contacting an experienced attorney promptly is very important in this situation.

Manufacturers, designers or distributors – If the swimming pool accident was caused by a defective product, the manufacturer, designer or distributor could be held liable. If the product became defective because of the way it was installed, the company that installed it could be liable.

Common Swimming Pool Accident Causes in Sacramento, CA

Swimming pools can be a source of fun and relaxation, but when safety measures are ignored, they can quickly become dangerous—especially for children and inexperienced swimmers. In Sacramento, many swimming pool accidents are preventable and occur because property owners or operators fail to meet their legal obligations to maintain a safe environment. Understanding the most common causes of these incidents can help victims recognize when negligence may have played a role in their injuries. Below are some of the most common causes of pool-related injuries and drownings in Sacramento:

• Lack of supervision: Children and inexperienced swimmers are especially at risk without a responsible adult or certified lifeguard present.

• Inadequate fencing or restricted access: Property owners may fail to install proper barriers, gates, or self-latching locks as required by California law, allowing unauthorized access.

• Slippery surfaces: Poorly maintained decks, cracked tiles, or wet walkways can lead to dangerous slip and fall accidents around the pool area.

• Defective or dangerous pool equipment: Broken pumps, missing anti-entrapment covers, or malfunctioning filters can cause serious injuries, including suction-related entrapment.

• Lack of warning signs or poor lighting: Public and shared-access pools must have clear safety signage and proper lighting to help prevent accidents—especially at night.

• Broken or missing safety equipment: Life rings, rescue poles, and other emergency equipment must be accessible and functional. Failure to provide these tools may delay rescue efforts in an emergency.

When pool owners or operators fail to correct or warn about these hazards, they may be held liable for injuries or deaths that occur as a result. If you or a loved one were injured in a preventable swimming pool accident, contact Arnold Law Firm for a free consultation with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer.

Keeping Pools Safe

There are a variety of steps property owners and homeowners can take to help reduce the risk of an accident in or around the pool:

• Only allow people to enter the pool when a responsible adult is present
• Prohibit intoxicated guests in the pool area
• Be sure that children are constantly under competent adult supervision
• Avoid leaving toys in the pool that may attract children
• Cover the pool when not in use
• Be sure everyone using the pool knows how to swim
• Review life-saving techniques and basic first aid with visitors
• Install a pool alarm that will indicate when someone is entering the pool

Compensation for Swimming Pool Accidents

Victims of swimming pool accidents may be entitled to significant compensation, especially when injuries occur due to negligence by a property owner, pool operator, or other responsible party. The extent of your compensation will depend on the circumstances of the incident, the severity of your injuries, and the long-term impact on your life and livelihood.

Common forms of compensation in swimming pool injury cases may include:

• Medical Expenses – Coverage for emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and future medical needs related to the injury.

• Lost Wages – Compensation for time missed from work due to injury and recovery, as well as loss of future earning capacity in cases of long-term or permanent disability.

• Pain and Suffering – Monetary recovery for physical pain, emotional trauma, anxiety, or diminished quality of life resulting from the accident.

• Loss of Consortium – In cases involving severe injury or wrongful death, compensation may also be awarded for the impact on a spouse or family relationship.

• Funeral and Burial Costs – If a loved one passed away in a drowning or fatal pool-related incident, surviving family members may be eligible to recover funeral expenses and pursue a wrongful death claim.

Determining fair compensation requires a detailed investigation and the ability to prove liability. Your attorney will gather evidence such as safety code violations, lack of supervision, defective equipment, and medical records to support your claim. Working with a knowledgeable swimming pool accident lawyer is essential to ensuring no damages are overlooked and that the full impact of your injuries is properly accounted for.

Why Choose Arnold Law Firm?

When a swimming pool accident leaves you or a loved one seriously injured, you need a legal team with the experience, resources, and dedication to fight for the compensation you deserve. At Arnold Law Firm, we bring decades of proven results in premises liability and personal injury cases, including those involving unsafe swimming pool conditions on both private and public property.

Here’s what sets our team apart:

• Deep Knowledge of Pool Safety Laws: Our attorneys are well-versed in California’s Swimming Pool Safety Act and other regulations that apply to both residential and public pools. We understand how to identify code violations, safety failures, and negligence that may have caused your injury.

• Proven Results in Serious Injury Cases: We’ve secured significant compensation for clients facing long-term medical needs, rehabilitation, or wrongful death claims due to property owner negligence.

• Focused, Compassionate Representation: Swimming pool accidents can be traumatic—especially when children are involved. We treat every case with empathy, urgency, and personal attention, making sure your voice is heard.

• No Fee Unless We Win: You don’t have to worry about upfront legal fees. We work on a contingency basis, which means you owe nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

• Free Consultations With No Obligation: You have questions—we have answers. We’ll listen to your story, evaluate your legal options, and give you honest advice about the strength of your case.

When you’re dealing with a preventable accident that happened because of someone else’s negligence, you deserve a law firm that fights to hold them accountable. Choose Arnold Law Firm—your trusted swimming pool accident lawyers in Sacramento.

Contact our Swimming Pool Accident Attorneys Today

If you or someone you care about was injured in a swimming pool accident—whether due to a slip and fall, lack of supervision, faulty equipment, or unsafe conditions—you may be entitled to compensation. These cases often fall under premises liability law, and determining who is responsible requires a thorough investigation and legal expertise.

At Arnold Law Firm, our experienced Sacramento swimming pool accident attorneys understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these incidents can take. We are committed to helping you pursue justice and recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

We offer free, no-obligation consultations to help you understand your rights and explore your legal options. You won’t pay any attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf—you don’t pay unless we win.

Our team has decades of experience holding negligent property owners, public entities, and manufacturers accountable for preventable injuries. Let us handle the legal burden while you focus on healing.

Call the Arnold Law Firm today at (916) 777-7777.