Swimming Pool Responsibility

Swimming is a very enjoyable pastime, and it is one of America’s most common summer activities. If people do not take proper precautions, however, a pleasant afternoon at the pool can quickly end in calamity and sometimes tragedy. In Wisconsin, people who own property with a swimming pool are considered legally responsible for the safety of their guests and neighborhood children. Specifically, property owners are expected to:

• Maintain their grounds. This does not mean that people must keep their property pretty or presentable, just that it must be reasonably safe. For example, placing an electrical cord near a puddle of water from the pool would be exposing guests to an unreasonable amount of danger, and the owner of that property could be found liable.
• Warn guests of any danger. Property owners are expected to be aware of any reasonably foreseeable dangers on their property. It is their duty to warn guests of any risks. For example, if a swimming pool is too shallow to dive into, the pool’s owner could be found liable if they fail to inform guests of this fact.
• Supervise children. Under Wisconsin law, swimming pools are considered an "attractive nuisance," meaning they can be very appealing to young children who do not know how to use them safely. Swimming pool owners are legally responsible for keeping their property secure, to prevent children from trespassing and becoming injured. There are many ways to achieve this, including tall fences and locking pool covers.

Contact

If you or a loved one has been injured on the property of a negligent owner, contact Wisconsin swimming pool injury lawyers Habush, Habush & Rottier at 608-255-6663.