Handling Cases Nationwide
Some pools and spas are obviously dangerous. Pools and spas with dirty water, rusted or corroded ladders and accessories, or with bottoms that are obscured by cloudy water and debris should obviously be avoided. But sometimes the most dangerous part of a pool or spa cannot be seen by the naked eye. Even in pools and spas treated with chemicals, dangerous bacteria and parasites can thrive. These microscopic creatures can in turn cause serious health complications for swimmers, especially for swimmers who are young, elderly, or have weakened immune systems.
It can be difficult to recover financial compensation after falling victim to a water illness. The “proof” necessary to establish your case is not as obvious as it is where there has been a diving board accident or where an improper fence was erected around the pool. The attorneys of Zinda Law Group know how to investigate cases of water illness and locate and preserve evidence and testimony necessary to enable you to receive monetary damages for your injuries.
Types of Water Illness
Spas and pools must be treated with appropriate chemicals, like chlorine, in order to kill off dangerous bacteria and parasites. Pool and spa owners and operators who do not properly treat their pools or spas are placing swimmers at risk of serious illness and may be found legally responsible for the losses and expenses these swimmers suffer as a result of their water illness.
But pool chemicals are not always sufficient to prevent water illnesses. One bacteria, cryptosporidium, is resistant to chlorine and may continue to live in a pool or spa that has been treated with chlorine. Other filtration measures are needed to remove cryptosporidium from the pool or spa water. An infection caused by cryptosporidium can cause serious gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea. While those swimmers with healthy immune systems are (in most cases) able to fend off the infection without emergency medical treatment, young and old swimmers, along with those who have weakened immune systems may require hospitalization and emergency medical intervention in order to survive the infection.
Other pool-borne bacteria can result in legionnaire’s disease. This illness is characterized by a fever, headache, chills, and/or respiratory problems. Again, while those while healthy immune systems may be able to fend off the disease, those with weakened or compromised immune systems must seek medical attention immediately or they may be killed.
So I Get Compensation if I Become Sick After Swimming?
Not necessarily. While some cases of water illness may result in financial compensation to you, others may not. Cases that do result in compensation require a complete and thorough investigation and presentation of evidence that establishes:
- You did in fact succumb to a water illness. If you cannot prove you suffered an illness that is related to pool or spa exposure, you may find it difficult to recover compensation.
- There was a careless party that is responsible for exposing you to the disease. In other words, you must be able to prove that one or more people acted in a way that was unreasonable and careless and that these careless actions were what caused you to contract the bacteria. For example, a pool owner who properly treated his pool and had no reason to suspect a bacteria or parasite existed in the pool’s water may be found to have acted reasonably, while another pool owner who did not treat her spa with appropriate chemicals may be found to have acted unreasonably.
- You did not contribute to your injuries. If you delayed in seeking medical attention, this can reduce the amount of compensation you receive from the at-fault party.
Contact Zinda Law Group
If you have been diagnosed with a water illness after swimming in someone else’s pool or spa, contact Zinda Law Group at 800-863-5312 right away for a case evaluation. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Call us as soon as possible to learn more about your legal rights.
