Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

As summertime approaches, families need to start finding ways to have affordable family fun. As hot weather comes upon us all, not everyone is lucky enough to have beach access. Swimming pools have become the center of summer fun in Pennsylvania. But swimming pools are more than just summer fun. They are also a place where catastrophic injuries and deaths to young children who are left unsupervised occur.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 3,000 deaths from drowning each year. This includes the 300 children under the age of five that drown in residential and apartment swimming pools every year. Additionally, more than 2,000 children under the age of five are treated in hospital emergency rooms from submersion injuries occurring in swimming pools. Submersion injuries are injuries caused from near-drowning. Near-drowning generally is defined as survival, at least temporarily, after suffocation by submersion in a liquid medium. Traditionally, this type of injury is accompanied by the loss of consciousness.

Children suffering from submersion injuries may have any of the following:

• Confusion, trouble thinking or remembering, or loss of consciousness;


• Abdominal (stomach) enlargement, nausea (upset stomach), or vomiting (throwing up);


• Cold skin that may appear as white to bluish-purple patches;


• Coughing, increased breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing;


• Weak or absent pulse; or


• Increased or decreased heartbeat or low blood pressure.

Drowning accidents in Philadelphia are best prevented by adult supervision. Most accidents involving drowning or severe injury are statistically proven to occur to children under five years of age who cannot swim, are unsupervised, or fall into a pool or a pool cover with water on top. Accidents involving toddlers between the ages of two and three are most likely to occur when toddlers wander off and away from a parent’s supervision. Installing barriers such as a fence and locked gate is a great way to prevent unsupervised children from entering a pool area.

The Pennsylvania building code states that any body of water more than 24-inches deep is considered a pool and must be fenced on all sides with a structure at least 48-inches high. A removable or locking ladder is required and the ladder must be removed or locked whenever the pool is not in use.

For in-ground pools, all fence gates must be self-closing and latching. A house may be used as the fourth side of the fence, but all doors leading to the pool area must have an audible warning device if no other gate or door is between the house and the pool. A power safety cover may also be used.

Hot tubs and spas do not require fencing as long as they have a cover that complies with the American Society for Testing and Materials F1346 standard. Covers that come from the hot tub manufacturer are in compliance with this standard.

For over three decades, the experienced Philadelphia swimming pool accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have been committed to fighting for the rights of those who suffered preventable swimming pool and water related injuries. If you, your child, or a loved one has suffered a swimming pool injury or drowning accident, you may be able to file a claim for premises liability or negligence, and receive financial compensation for medical costs, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Our experienced lawyers have investigated numerous swimming pool and drowning accidents. We understand many different complex factors that have resulted in unfortunate accidents, permanent disability, and untimely death related to pool safety and drowning. If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered a swimming pool drowning accident, please contact us for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at (800) 421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Recently a young boy drowned while swimming at night in a swimming pool owned by a major hotel chain while attending a wedding reception. Although alcohol was involved, there were numerous other violations pointing to owner/operator negligence for swimming pool operations and premise liability which led to the tragic death. Recently I was a guest at another major hotel chain with an indoor pool and was surprised to notice that the hotel did not secure the pool at night by locking doors even though claiming it was closed during evening hours. The hotel’s actions indicated that guests were allowed to swim at night and the area was dimly and darkly lit. The hotel also had business and social functions ongoing in the lobby and bar areas and it was very possible for guests who were intoxicated to enter the pool.

In the hotel swimming pool drowning accident case where the boy drowned, an aquatic safety consultant was retained and stated that the hotel was negligent in that it failed to secure the pool at night with locked doors or gates even though they claimed it was closed during evening hours. Routine pool controls and patrols were not conducted for safety and the pool was lacking safety signs, rescue and resuscitation equipment. There was no one on staff ultimately in charge of the pool and in fact, many of the safety breaches which led to the finding of liability on behalf of the hotel chain were in violation of the company’s written policies.

As an experienced Philadelphia hotel safety and Philadelphia swimming pool accident lawyer for over thirty years, I understand that safety is priority number one and that hotels and motels owe the highest duty of care to those who visit the premises as customers to insure their safety and protect them from significant harm or death. If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a swimming pool accident, please contact us for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

On August 15, 2011, 18-year old Michael Knudsen was electrocuted while swimming at a marina. Attorneys representing the teenage youth in the swimming accident stated that improper electrical wiring in the floating dock area and shoddy workmanship presented danger of electrocution and that the death could have been prevented by exercising just a little care. The preliminary investigation indicated that there was a short in an electrical line which carried power to a section of the floating dock allowing electrical current to enter the water where the man was electrocuted.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the victim and their family.

As an experienced swimming accident and electrocution accident attorney, I believe that the owners and operators of the marina, as well as any other responsible parties or contractors who may have performed alleged shoddy work or taken short cuts which resulted in this accident should be held accountable for this unfortunate tragic wrongful death.

As an experienced swimming and drowning accident lawyer who also happens to live on the beach, many times I often observe individuals going into the ocean with belly boards or rafts when there are strong currents and high winds. Many times conditions are simply unsafe, however individuals seemingly believe that the raft, belly board, or other personal flotation device will keep them safe.

Over the last weekend, two individuals drowned and died in water-related accidents while using personal flotation devices. Both individuals were experienced swimmers. As an experienced drowning and swimming accident attorney who also happened to be a lifeguard in his earlier years, I advise anyone using a body board or raft to use them only with a leash attached to the board and/or ankle or wrist. These are available in most shops where surf and body boards are sold and rented. With the leash, the user will not become separated from the flotation device. I also advise that one should not float where you can’t swim. Many times non-swimmers will use rafts or belly boards to go off shore and if they fall off, they may panic or get caught in the current and be unable to swim back to the raft or board even with a leash attached.

The water accident and drowning attorneys of Reiff & Bily are committed to water safety and recognize that even skilled swimmers often find themselves at risk for injury if they are not properly prepared. For more information, please contact us toll free at
1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I was recently contacted by an investigative reporter concerning swimming pool accidents and drownings in Pennsylvania and one of the issues discussed was whether or not there was a safety difference between in ground or above ground pools. Simply stated, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and more children under the age of 12 will die or sustain a water submersion injury due to the failure of others to lock, look, and learn about pool safety.

As an experienced swimming pool accident, drowning, and water submersion injury lawyer for over three decades, one thing is for certain it really doesn’t matter what the size of the pool is or whether it is in ground or above ground, pools are still pools and it only takes a minute for a child to drown.

Researchers indicated that every 5 days across American, a child drowns in a portable swimming pool and almost half of these deaths happen in very shallow wading pools and according to the Mayo Clinic, a baby can drown in less than 1 inch of water. Most children’s drownings occur in the child’s own yard. Interestingly enough in many of the portable or above ground pool cases that we have investigated, many times there was the lack of a safety barrier or fence and the rationale explained by the defendant was that the small portable pool or above ground pool was not big enough to make expensive safety fencing necessary. Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury related death for children under 14 years of age. With the recent heat wave in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we have seen an increased amount of water rescues, drownings, and water submersion injuries. Many times if one purchases a portable or above ground pool retailers never inform the customer of local restrictions requiring fencing. Many advertisements state you can be swimming in no time and are more interested in profitability and the bottom line return for store owners than the safety of those who buy the pool.

Continue reading "Experienced Swimming Pool Drowning and Water Submersion Injury Lawyer Weighs In On Which Is Safer - Above Ground Or In Ground Pools" »

As an experienced Pennsylvania swimming pool, drowning, and water accident attorney who also has investigated many amusement and water park catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases over the last three decades, I am always sad to learn of news concerning the death of a young child.

On Wednesday, July 6, 2011, a six year old boy was killed after jumping into a swimming pool at Knoebels Crystal Pool located in Elysburg, North Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. According to news reports, life guards found the boy under water and pulled him from the pool and performed CPR. He was then transported to Geisinger Medical Center where he later died. The cause of death is not known and is under investigation. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the 6-year old. According to news sources, the boy was said to be in the shallow end of the pool, jumping in and out of the water.

It appears that the summer of 2011 is unfortunately proving to be one quantified by catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths at local amusement parks, swimming pools, and water parks, as well as drownings at private and public swimming pools.

As an experienced Pennsylvania water park, amusement park, and swimming pool accident attorney, I am curious why the child was not spotted sooner and whether or not the water park had proper supervision and training of life guards and safety personnel, whether the pool was properly maintained, and whether or not there were breaches of any of the federal and state guidelines concerning the operation of the swimming pool and amusement attractions. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of the victim for their tragic and heartbreaking loss and we ask that all of our readers keep this grieving family in their thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Boy Dies In Pennsylvania Amusement Park Swimming Pool Accident - Experienced Pennsylvania Swimming Pool and Water Accident Attorney Weighs In" »

When we send our children to summer camp, we want to always think of the smiles and moments of joy and happiness etched in the minds of our kids. Unfortunately all it takes is a tragic overnight or day camp accident to turn a family’s life into a nightmare. Dreams are lost and hopes are vanished.

On June 19, 2011, Andrew Silvershein, 16-years old, of Davie, Florida drowned during a white water rafting trip during his first week at Camp Ramah Daron. As an experienced water accident and camping accident attorney who has also been involved in the camping arena, I recognize that safety should be the number one concern and priority when it involves kids, teens, and summer camps.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the Silvershein family, and this tragic accident should cause all summer camps to review safety measures. Unfortunately investigation reveals that Andrew Silvershein was wedged under a rock and was wearing a life jacket and helmet. I too have been an experienced white water rafter and had suffered a similar accident a number of years ago on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica when I was thrown from the boat and swept by the current and snapped my leg to break it between a rock. White water rafting can simply be dangerous under improper conditions and it is essential that summer camps properly train their staff in safety measures and out source to reliable trip providers that follow the safest of protocols.

The drowning drowning, and water submersion accident attorneys
of the Beasley Reiff Law Group
are committed to swimming pool and water safety. Our catastrophic injury and wrongful death
drowning lawyers have been awarded billions of dollars on behalf of victims and their families since 1958. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

When one thinks of a baptism ceremony, we normally think of joy, smiles, and celebration. Unfortunately this is not always the case. As an experienced water accident and drowning attorney, I unfortunately learned of a tragic and sorrowful accident that occurred in Atlanta, Georgia over the weekend of June 25th when a church member drowned following a baptism ceremony at Lake Lanier. According to news sources, 37-year old Ciro Jimenez Beltron, age 37, was lingering in the shallows of the lake with a few congregants after a baptism ceremony and although it was noted Beltron could not swim and was not wearing a life jacket, he slipped in a lake drop-off where the water depth drops from 3 to 13 feet. Rivers and lakes are often popular settings for baptisms by submersion. Unfortunately rescuers from several law enforcement agencies and other parishioners were unable to locate Beltron’s body until the following Monday morning.

It is my understanding that a water baptism is symbolically an act of obedience that follows conversion to portray the symbolic washing away of sins. Obviously, if non-swimmers and church parishioners choose to participate in these ceremonies, proper safety measures must be taken to insure a tragedy such as this does not occur. Lakes frequently have drop offs and slimy bottoms and therefore without proper safety equipment or trained supervision, a person without swimming ability could easily sustain a water or drowning submersion injury. There have been an unusually high number of lake drownings this year and no matter what the situation, safety should always be the top priority.

Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional related death for children age 1 to 14 and males are 4 times more likely than females to drown. African American children age 5 to 14 are more than three times more likely to drown than Caucasian children of similar age. Almost all drownings are caused by failure to follow safe water front or swimming pool safety programs.

Continue reading "Believe It Or Not People Drown During Baptisms Advises Drowning Lawyer" »

More people died in boating accidents in New Jersey last year than the year before. While boating fatalities fell nationally to a record low of 672 from 5.8 deaths per 100,000 registered vessels to 5.4 deaths per 100,000 vessels, these numbers were not translated into a better safety record in New Jersey where fatalities and drownings increased. Two more people died in 2010 than in 2009 in New Jersey due to boating accidents and almost all deaths were related to failure to have adequate flotation devices and failure to wear life jackets.

As an experienced boating accident and drowning accident lawyer who also deals with swimming and submersion injuries and deaths, we urge all of our readers to take a Coast Guard boating safety course and have their boat inspected to make sure that you are compliant with safety regulations. Of course it goes without saying that one should never operate a vessel under the influence of alcohol and should stay off of vessels where the operator has had one too many. While these statistics refer only to those boats that are legally registered, many other boating accidents involve catastrophic injuries and death on boats that are not registered as well as smaller water craft.

As an experienced boater for over 50 years and as a boating accident attorney who is focused on boating and maritime injuries and drowning accidents, I am constantly amazed that I see people acting unsafely in the water jeopardizing the lives of others and taking risks that may cause catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. The United States Coast Guard is pushing for federal legislation that would make lifeguard usage mandatory in all adults in New Jersey as currently children under 13 are required to wear life jackets. Nine people have been killed on the water in the 5th Coast Guard District since the Memorial Day weekend.

Continue reading "Local New Jersey Boating Fatalities Increase In 2010 Contrary To A National Trend - Experienced Boating Accident and Drowning Lawyers Weigh In" »

A school trip to a water park by 9-year old Jeremy Molumba ended tragically after the young boy was swept toward the deep end by surging water in a wave pool. According to news sources, a classmate tried to grip his friends hand before a second wave pushed him below the water surface. According to sources, the 4th grader remained at the bottom of the pool for more than one hour before anyone came to his rescue.

As an experienced amusement park and water park accident attorney, the first thing that came to my mind was where were the lifeguards or other supervisors whose job it is to maintain safe watch over the guests of the park? The guests of the park are identified legally as business invitees and are owed the highest duty of care. Other issues should be explored such as: Was the water cloudy? Was the water so cloudy or dirty that they could not see the child laying on the bottom? Was the drainage and pump system working properly or was there too much force and suction which forced the young man under the water and to the bottom? Individuals in wave pools regularly sustain injuries ranging from lacerations, bruises, brain injuries, neck and back injuries, drownings, paraplegia, quadriplegia, and sometimes death. Many times they are the result of slippery surfaces, polluted water, and improper supervision. When water park employees, managers, or operators are negligent, it is all too easy for an otherwise innocent and unknowing individual to get in trouble and sustain a catastrophic injury by submersion or suffer death by drowning. Unfortunately many water parks are not currently regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and many water park and amusement park owners vehemently oppose federal oversight of safety regulations and reporting that many legislators seek to give the CPSC authority over water park and federal theme parks. Many water parks are not in conformance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act which requires installing drain covers that meet ANSA/ASNE A112.19.8-27 standards on every drains or grates. It also requires the installation of an automatic shut off system, drainage gravity system, and a safety vacuum system, suction limiting vent system, or drain disabler. Many times loud music in a pool area or in a wave pool area prevents lifeguards from hearing calls of distress and many times the bottom of the wave pool is slippery due to the presence of algae. Crowd control issues and the adequate amount and training of lifeguards and supervisors and maintenance staff is an essential element of safety. It has been noted that there has been a sharp increase of drownings among children up through the age of 12 and although amusement parks and water park attractions appear to be safe, when you combine negligent supervision, premise liability defects, as well as a potential for defective design and manufacturing defects, many accidents occur that could have easily been avoided.

If you or a loved one has sustained an injury in anamusement park or water park, or has suffered a drowning or water submersion injury, the experienced amusement park and water park lawyers of the www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com offer a free, no obligation confidential consultation. We have been stalwarts of consumer and amusement and water park safety for over half a century and our attorneys and our legal team has been awarded over $2 billion since 1958. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

With the arrival of summer public pool and private country club swimming pools are the place that many families and young children escape to to create summertime memories of fun.

Unfortunately in mid-June a special day for a family turned tragic after a 6-year old donned his goggles and prepared to dive for toys at the Woodhaven Country Club in Louisville. According to news sources, the 6-year old suffered a severe brain injury after remaining submerged underwater for an unknown period of time and according to medical records, the cause of death was consistent with drowning. Attempts were made to save the youth, however, he died the following day after medical staff at a children’s hospital disconnected him from life support.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Keegan Adkins and as a parent and experienced swimming pool accident attorney who has witnessed this type of tragedy for decades no words can express the sorrow and loss we all feel when we learn of a catastrophic incident or drowning such as this.

Continue reading "Drowning Death of 6-Year Old At A Country Club Indicates Just How Quickly A Special Day Can Turn Into a Tragedy - Experienced Swimming Pool Accident Attorney Weighs In" »

As an experienced swimming pool accident and drowning accident lawyer, there is one thing I can say with certainty - water accidents generally happen very quickly and usually are silent. This past Friday an 18-year old gentleman drowned when wading at a non-swimming beach. According to news reports, the victim could not swim and a simple misstep cost him his life. Imagine if you were waist deep in water and you take another step and before you know it you are over your head. Even as an experienced swimmer, this has happened to me wading in the ocean and a lake. Many lake beds are not graded and have sudden drop offs.

If you are aware of a victim who does not have swimming ability or are the parent or supervisor of a young child or toddler, it is easier to be safe and place a life jacket on that individual. Even a misstep on a sharp or foreign object can cause a person to lose balance and drown in very shallow water. It is essential to always keep an eye on children or non-swimmers in a lake, pool, or ocean environment. Lifeguards have many people to keep an eye on and of course, no one is perfect.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a swimming pool or drowning accident, the experienced swimming pool and drowning accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have decades of experience and awarded hundreds of millions of dollars. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. All of our trial lawyers have secured verdicts, settlements, and awards in the seven and eight figure dollar amounts. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

In 2007 Congress passed the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Spa Act named for the 70-year old granddaughter of Secretary of State James Baker who died in a hot tub after getting trapped in a drain.

The experienced hot tub, swimming pool accident and drowning accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been pool safety advocates for decades are aware that a pool drain or spa drain can be an extremely hazardous unknowing danger and many are unaware of the suction forces that can disembowel and kill innocent individuals. Unfortunately as recent stories and inquiries indicate, the law has not been implemented as planned and there was a pre-Memorial Day recall of more than one million pool drain covers, as well as a plethora of national drowning and submersion injuries. Even in a wading pool, a child can suffer a suction evisceration from a pool drain which can occur in the blink of an eye. Typically a suction entrapment can occur when a swimmer, usually a small child, is trapped by suction forces created by water rushing out of the drain at the bottom of the pool.

Under the Virginia Graeme Baker Act $4 million dollars in grants were awarded to states to bring pool safety codes up to Federal standards. Yet not one state has fully done so. The Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that one of the biggest hurdles of the safety agency has been enforcing compliance with the law and has contracted out with 16 state and local health departments to do more than 2,800 inspections at $400 each. Unbelievably those contracts cover less than 1% of the 300,000 commercial pools in America, yet do not include residential pools and spas which are numbered at more than 16 million.

While we salute the passage of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, without enforcement and strict re-enforcement of regulations with teeth, it is more likely than not that innocent victims will continue to sustain submersion and drowning injuries and future deaths.

As an experienced drowning and swimming pool accident lawyer committed to swimming pool and water safety, it is imperative that we all pay more attention to this potential swimming hazard.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a swimming pool or hot tub accident or suffered a submersion injury or drowning incident, the experienced swimming pool and drowning accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily offer a free, no obligation confidential consultation by our lawyers and team of experts. We understand how quickly one’s loss of dreams can occur in a simple underwater or drowning accident. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

This past weekend I had a 3-year old child at my house and nervously watched from a distance as one of her arms slipped from a water wing while she floated in 6 feet of water. Thankfully, there was a supervising adult nearby.

As an experienced Pennsylvania swimming pool and water accident lawyer, I have reviewed and investigated many situations involving the failure of floatation devices which unwittingly lulled parents and children into a false sense of security.

As a young boy, I remember being pushed from a raft and falling over and sinking to the bottom of the pool to be rescued by my father who was standing nearby. Of course, I felt secure in the pool on the raft but after I sank and was brought to the surface choking water, I was traumatized for life and became particularly sensitive to these issues and at this date prosecute swimming pool and water injury death and drowning cases. Young children think of swimming pools as fun and do not associate floats or water wings with water safety. If one of these devices fails or falls off, drowning or catastrophic injury resulting from water submersion is a definite possibility. While I refer generically to child flotation devices or water wings, others refer to them as floaties, armbands, swimmies, or side wings, they all have similar construction in that they are inflatable plastic bands worn around the child’s upper arm to provide mild flotation for uncertain swimmers. Many times they are not worn snugly or not properly inflated or have leaks or holes or simply the child pulls them off. Whenever a child is in the pool with waterwings, it is ultimately more important to have proper safety equipment and parents or other adults supervising the child carefully when they are in or near the water. I recommend enrolling children in water safety or swimming classes as soon as possible and safety rules must always be enforced with no horseplay or other unsafe behaviors and certainly there should be no pets, such as dogs, in or near the swimming area which may play with the child and bite the water wings puncturing the same. Just like any other activity in life, chance favors the prepared mind. The safety of children in pools should never be compromised.

Continue reading "Water Wings and Flotation Devices May Be Dangerous As They Have A Tendency To Lull Parents and Children Into a False Sense of Security" »

As a swimming pool and water accident safety advocate as well as drowning and swimming pool accident attorney, I call our readers attention to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission National Pool and Spa Public Safety Campaign at www.poolsafely.gov. According to CPCS estimates nearly 300 children younger than 5 will drown in swimming pools and spas this year with more than 3,200 going to hospital emergency rooms due to non-fatal submersion injuries. A number of these water-related accidents will result in permanent disability including brain damage. The pool safely campaign highlighted above offers tips on how to prevent drowning death and submersion injuries.

As an experienced swimming pool accident attorney, I am aware that many private and public pools and spas do not follow federal legislation set forth in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. The act was named after 70-year old Virginia Graeme Baker who drowned when she became trapped in a broken drain cover in a hot tub in 2002. If you or a loved one has sustained a pool or hot tub injury or drowning, the experienced swimming pool accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have the experience and resources necessary to prosecute your claim. Effective January 1, 2011 Reiff & Bily joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and together our attorneys have been awarded billions of dollars since 1958 representing the interests of catastrophically injured victims and their families and those who unfortunately sustained wrongful death due to the negligence of others. For a free, no obligation consultation contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to news sources, a 41-year old Conshohocken man was pronounced dead this morning after a guest at the Clarion Hotel in Scranton, PA found him and a 45-year old woman unresponsive in a hot tub in the hotel’s pool area. Investigators believe that the victim drowned but cannot determine whether the death was an accident until an official cause of death is established by the Lackawanna County Coroner’s Office. As of 8:00 a.m. this morning, the male victim was pronounced dead; however, the female victim was still alive.

We send our thoughts and prayers to the victims of this catastrophic hotel hot tub incident and we sincerely hope that the surviving female victim makes a complete and quick recovery.

According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were approximately 3,443 fatal unintentional drowning incidents in the United States in 2007. Fatal drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury related death. Non-fatal drowning accidents or near drowning can cause brain injuries and brain damage that may result in long term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning when the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off.

Although at this point it is unclear what may have caused this tragic hot tub accident and there are several unanswered questions, this experienced hot tub and swimming pool accident lawyer is curious as to what security and safety precautions were in effect in the area, why was there access to the hot tub and pool in the early morning hours, were there any closed circuit cameras to indicate a problem to the hotel owners and operators, and were any warnings posted. We trust that investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine what precisely caused this near drowning accident. This unfortunate incident should serve as a reminder to parents, grandparents, care givers, and hotel guests to always insure that individuals in a hot tub or swimming pool are supervised. All it takes is a few seconds of inattention for a fatal swimming pool or hot tub accident or drowning to occur.

Continue reading "Local Montgomery County Man Found Dead In Scranton, PA Hotel Hot Tub" »

Recently a product liability legal claim was settled for a confidential amount by the manufacturer of a pet door that provided an escape for a 2-year old boy who crawled through the door and drowned in a swimming pool. The parents of the 2-year old alleged that the pet door was defective and unreasonably dangerous and that it lacked warnings about unintended use by children. Plaintiffs also uncovered evidence that the company knew of prior fatal accidents with children involving the pet door.

As experienced Pennsylvania swimming pool accident and product liability lawyers, we are well aware that a little known cause of childhood injuries and deaths are pet doors. Since 1966, there have been over one hundred documented cases of children endangered after exiting a home via a pet door. Nearly 3/4 of these unfortunately resulted in a catastrophic injury or wrongful death. Most parents are simply unaware that a child or infant can easily escape through a small pet door opening. Just a few years ago in a local Delaware case, another 3-year old girl was found in several feet of rain water collected in the cover of a covered pool after she crawled out of her home.

Drowning and swimming pool deaths involving children is on the rise, and it is just that time of year when parents must take safety precautions around a swimming pool environment. Ownership and operation of a swimming pool carries with it a strong responsibility to protect others on your premises particularly young children. Our experienced swimming pool and hot tub accident attorneys have represented victims and the families of victims who sustained catastrophic injuries and wrongful death as a result of swimming pool and hot tub accidents. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental injury or death among children ages 1 to14 and the leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4. The most common place for a 1 to 4-year old child to drown is in a home swimming pool and in nearly 9 out 10 drowning deaths, a parent or caregiver claimed to be watching the child.

Continue reading "Pet Doors Near Swimming Pool Can Be Extremely Hazardous To Young Children" »

Almost every year in America nearly 200 hundred children younger than 5-years-old drown in swimming pools and spas and more than 3,200 that age go to hospital emergency rooms due to non-fatal submersion injuries. An unknown number of these hospitalizations result in permanent disability including brain damage. As an experienced Philadelphia swimming pool accident and water accident attorney, one thing is almost always certain. That most of these injuries could have been easily prevented.

The Virginia Graeme-Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was passed as a federal child safety act designed to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations in swimming pools and spas. Despite the fact that the law became effective on December 19, 2008, we have noticed that many swimming pools, hot tubs, public pools, and water parks are non-compliant. The law has had poor exposure to most pool operators.

A recent poll indicates that over 25% of respondents have no idea of what the Act is. 27% indicate that they are non-compliant. This raises additional concerns for the safety of children. Believe it or not many pool operators continue to place profitability over safety and claim that they cannot afford to repair a defective drain or pool. The cost of the repair for the new improved drains ranges from $30 for small drains to approximately $1,000 for large drains at theme parks or kiddie pools. There are many excellent resources available explaining the law and how to safeguard against injuries. These websites include www.safekids.org, www.nrpa.org, and www.youtube.com/poolsafety.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a swimming pool, water park, or hot tub accident, it is best that you contact an experienced swimming pool or water park accident attorney to investigate your rights. The best swimming pool accident attorney will always offer a free no obligation consultation. Please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

This is the third Pennsylvania swimming pool accident case that I have learned about in the last few days. A 3-year old girl was found floating in a swimming pool by a Pennsylvania family. According to news sources, the toddler was playing outside of her house with her mother. After the mother put the child to sleep, the mother fell asleep as well. The toddler then left home with a diaper bag and walked down two houses to a neighbor’s pool, pried open the gate, and somehow got into the swimming pool. The neighbors found the 3-year-old floating in their pool at their home on Haul Street in Brownstone, PA. Emergency crews arrived at the pool and took the child to Children’s Hospital where the prognosis thankfully looks good. This third example of drowning or near drowning at a Pennsylvania swimming pool indicates the necessity to take strong precautions when it comes to swimming pools and safety. As I have said before, in a split second a situation such as this could have ended tragically with a drowning.

As an experienced Pennsylvania swimming pool and hot tub accident lawyer, I recommend the use of gates, alarms, and extra supervision as well as following the guidelines set forth in the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s public safety campaign on pool and spa safety.

If you or a loved one would like more information on swimming pool safety or have been involved in a swimming pool, hot tub or water park accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers for a no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

In late June, I had the opportunity to speak with Representatives of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission with regard to their campaign to attempt to reduce pool and spa drownings. As a Pennsylvania swimming pool and water accident lawyer, I am all too familiar with the tragic consequences of drowning and other water-related injuries that are often so preventable. As temperatures rise in the Pennsylvania area and around the United States, millions of Americans will flock to swimming pools. It is important to take various protective water safety tips to save the lives of children. Believe it or not, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under 5.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is Federal legislation signed into law in 2007 mandating new legal requirements for public pool and spa safety including a public education program designed to increase public awareness, promote industry compliance, and improve safety at pools and spas. Unfortunately, my experience as an experienced Pennsylvania accident and swimming pool lawyer has been that many pool owners and operators in a tough economy have not complied with the mandates of these new laws. The most important steps for any parent to take is to constantly be on the lookout for children in and around a pool area.

–Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when they are in or near a pool or spa.

–Teach children basic water safety tips.

–Avoid entrapment by keeping children away from all pool drains, pipes, and other openings.

–Have a phone close by at all times when you or your family are using a pool or spa.

–If a child is missing, look for them in a pool or spa first.

–Share safety instructions with all family, friends, and neighbors.

–Learn how to swim and teach your children how to swim.

–Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults and update regularly.

–Understand the basics of lifesaving so that you can assist in a pool emergency.

–Install a 4 foot fence around the perimeter of the pool and spa and use self closing and self latching gates.

–If your house serves as a 4th side of a fence around a pool, install a pool alarm and use it all the time.

–Make sure your pool or any spa used has complying drain covers and ask if you don=t know.

–Have lifesaving equipment such as life rings or floats available for easy use.

For more information visit the following website www.poolsafety.gov or view YouTube at www.youtube.com/poolsafety.

The Pennsylvania swimming pool and water accident safety lawyers of Reiff & Bily are committed to preventing drownings, catastrophic accidents, and brain trauma which result from negligent pool safety. The swimming season has kicked off and we want parents and children to stay safe.