Maison Law represents the victims of premises liability negligence in California, including those hurt due to the negligent security provided around pools and other public places. Our negligent security lawyers help the victims of criminal acts earn the support they need to make a full recovery. Please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your injury and terrifying ordeal should be worth and how to hold pool owners and operators fully responsible.
Swimming Pool Security Issues
Pools are popular spots when it gets hot in California. However, pool owners and operators owe their members and visitors more than just a refreshing cool down. They must protect pool-goers and visitors from harm.
One risk around any public place is the threat of criminal activity. Even fun places like pools can expose people to harm if someone breaks the law and attempts an armed robbery at a pool facility. Victims might suffer gunshot wounds or knife wounds.
Pool-goers can also turn violent and harm another visitor, leaving victims dependent on security staffing for help. But pool operators may not provide enough personnel to keep you safe and enough cameras and perimeter fencing to discourage criminal behavior.
Your California negligent security lawyer would collect every piece of evidence showing the neglect of pool operators and make sure they had no excuse to reject your claim. Then your lawyer would demand the maximum in compensation for your suffering.
California Swimming Pool Security Dangers
This carelessness by the operators of public pools leaves their employers and business owners fully responsible for the harm caused. These are just some of the negligent acts that would allow victims to file personal injury claims against a property owner:
- Untrained security guards and lifeguards or a lack of security.
- Failure to warn visitors of previous criminal attacks in the area.
- Failure to remove visitors who have been reported for violence or criminal activity before.
- Not enough lighting in parking lots, along sidewalks between buildings, and around pools.
- Keeping children and adults safe from situations that could lead to sexual assault. Eliminating areas that aren’t monitored by security or cameras.
- Malfunctioning security cameras.
- Exposing pool goers to staff members with violent histories.
- Failure to do proper background checks on all employees, including lifeguards.
- Broken fences. The neglect of repairs to fences, gates, and security barriers could allow those with criminal intent access to parking lots, pools, and water parks.
- Lack of metal detectors and bag checks. This negligence could allow someone to sneak a weapon into a pool area, putting you and your family at risk of a traumatic injury.
Who Is Liable After a Criminal Attack at a Pool?
Pool owners owe their guests a “duty of care” to keep them safe in the pool, around the pool, and even in the parking lots. That includes keeping you safe from criminal activity that may occur around a pool facility.
The neglect of this duty to prevent exposure to criminal assault is known as negligent security and can lead to a personal injury claim. The laws protecting all visitors to pools fall under premises liability. A waterpark owner or operator should be covering all recovery costs for victims for as long as necessary.
These are just a few of the parties that may be liable if you or a loved one are hurt in a criminal assault at a pool.
- Apartment management companies and landlords providing pools for tenants.
- Property owners.
- Waterpark owners and operators.
- City and County recreational departments that operate public pools.
- Security firms hired to protect pool and property guests.
Early Deadlines for Filing Negligent Security Claims Against City Government
In the case of a city-owned public swimming pool, the process to sue a city or county department can be very complex. Government-operated parks and pools will be protected by special laws that make it harder to file negligent security claims.
In many cases, you’d have to send a letter of intent to the city government announcing your desire to file a lawsuit. Then, you’d only be able to file the lawsuit if the government gave you permission to file. Your personal injury lawyer would make sure the evidence was overwhelming. This would force the government entity to accept responsibility.
The other factor making a lawsuit more difficult is that there may be a shorter statute of limitations on your claim. You may have only months to file an injury claim against the city. If you wait longer, you’ll lose your opportunity to earn financial support for recovery. It’s important to speak with a skilled California premises liability lawyer about your case so you don’t go past these deadlines and lose your chance to seek compensation.
Compensation Available for Criminal Attack Victims
Your negligent security lawyer will ensure that every hardship you and your family endure after an attack is documented and included in any claim. This claim will be submitted to the insurance provider for a pool owner or operator. Everything must be listed in this claim because anything left off can end up as a cost that you or your family must cover.
Your lawyer demands compensation for your economic and non-economic damages and for factors you may not have known could earn additional support in a negligent security settlement check.
These are some of the economic losses you should receive compensation for:
- Money to pay every medical bill, including for care expected to be needed in the months ahead.
- A lifetime of support for victims who are left to live with a physical disability after an attack. The same sort of support for those left with scars or permanent disfigurement.
- Travel costs for patients who must attend doctor’s appointments and physical therapy while unable to drive. They may also be in wheelchairs or on crutches and have to rely on expensive shuttles for transportation.
- Lost income and benefits at work.
- Compensation for property damage.
- Wrongful death claims. Families can seek economic help after losing a loved one in a tragic incident around a pool. The family can receive support to pay funeral costs and leftover medical bills. They should seek help to replace the income the deceased can no longer provide to support family members.
These are some of the non-economic damages victims should demand help with:
- Support for the physical pain victims must go through.
- Support for the emotional trauma crime victims experience after an attack and throughout their lives.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Support to pay for psychological counseling.
- Wrongful death non-economic support. Families mourning the loss of a loved one can also seek support for the guidance and love a deceased victim can no longer provide in the years to come. Support could also factor in the loss of companionship and intimacy a spouse or partner will experience after losing a husband or wife.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a negligent security claim?
Victims hurt at a pool operated by a business owner or a landlord would have up to two years to file an injury claim. But if victims are hurt at a public pool, the deadline to sue a government entity can be much shorter.
What if I can’t afford to pay a negligent security lawyer?
You can still afford representation from Maison Law to maximize the support you are awarded. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you and your family. Then our attorney fee comes out of the settlement money you receive from an insurance company.
Will I have to go to court to secure recovery support after an attack at a pool?
Not usually. Most insurance companies do their best to make you happy with a settlement offer, especially if you have a lawyer. Your attorney represents the threat of a lawsuit and insurers want to avoid the cost and embarrassment of going to court.
Contact Maison Law After a California Negligent Security Accident at a Pool
The owners and operators of public and private pools owe you more than just a good time when you visit their facilities. They are legally required to take action to keep you safe from hazards in and around a pool, and any risk of criminal activity. If you are the victim of a violent act while at a pool, owners and operators could be fully accountable for your recovery costs.
Contact Maison Law to understand your rights after such a traumatic incident. Our California negligent security lawyers offer a free case consultation to victims and their families. It’s a no-risk way to find out how to hold insurance companies responsible for a failure in security that leads to an attack. We aren’t afraid to take on businesses and city government to secure everything you need to rebuild your life.
