A pool pump electrocution can cause serious injury and even death. It occurs when swimmers come into contact with electrical current that has been released into the water by faulty wiring or defective equipment. Victims may be entitled to recover pain and suffering compensation or wrongful death damages.
What happens when a pool pump electrocution occurs?
If this tragic event occurs it could cause death or serious injury to swimmers who come into contact with electrified water. It could take a person’s life immediately or this type of electrocution in water could paralyze the person and, thus, cause him or her to drown.
How can you protect against a pool pump electrocution?
To protect your loved ones, family and yourself against a pool pump electrocution, there are devices that use warning alarms and flashing lights to alert you in there is an electrical current in the water you are about to enter. You should also know where the power shut-off switch is and how to use it.
Here is more detail about how to prevent an electric shock injury or death:
- Use the “Shock Alert” tool (or a similar device if you can find one – such as Dock Lifeguard for boats) which detects whether pool water has been electrified due the presence of an electrical current that has been released into the water by a pump that suffers from either faulty wiring and/or defective equipment (red flashing lights and warning indicators beep when electrical current is detected and the flashing and beeping intensify as the Shock Alert tool gets closer to the source of the electrical current/voltage source)
- Make sure that you and your family know the location of all of the electrical switches and circuit breakers that affect the swimming pool and its equipment and be familiar with how to turn off the power in case of an emergency
- Stay out of and away from the water if the pump or any of the pool equipment is not working properly
- Make sure that ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCIs) were used with the pump
- Confirm that the swimming pool, the pump and all related electrical equipment have been inspected by a licensed, experienced and qualified electrician and they are in full compliance with the applicable safety codes and the National Electrical Code
Pain and suffering compensation
If you or a loved one suffered an electric shock injury as a result of a pool pump electrocution, then you may be able to recover pain and suffering compensation from any responsible party.
Wrongful death damages
If you and your family have lost a loved one as the result of a pool pump electrocution, then you may be able to recover wrongful death damages from any responsible party for your loved one’s conscious pain and suffering, for your family’s loss of financial support, society and companionship and for medical, hospital, funeral and burial expenses.
Who can be held responsible?
The parties who may be responsible pain and suffering compensation or wrongful death damages after a pool pump electrocution include: (1) the pool’s owner; (2) the maintenance company that services the pool; (3) the installer; (4) the manufacturer; (5) the electrician who did the electrical work on the pool.
Here is more detail about the parties who may be potentially responsible for injuries or death:
- The owner of a hotel pool
- The owner of an apartment complex pool
- The owner of a community pool
- The owner of a health club pool
- The owner of school pool
- The owner of a backyard pool
- The owner of an enclosed pool at someone’s home
- The business that is responsible for maintenance of the pool
- The business that installed the pool’s electrical equipment
- The manufacturer of the pool’s electrical equipment
- The business that inspected and determined the pool was up to code
- The electrician and/or electrical company and/or licensed electrical contractor who performed the electrical work on the pool
How much compensation is available for victims?
The factors that will determine the amount of compensation that you may be able to recover after a pool pump electrocution include: (1) the injuries that were suffered; (2) whether a family member or loved one was killed; (3) present and future medical needs; (4) disability from working; (5) pre-electrocution income; and (6) the experience, track record and reputation of your lawyer.
The lawyer that you and your family choose to protect you and your rights will have a significant impact on the amount of compensation you are able to recover.
The most important factor is experience – the vast majority of personal injury lawyers have never handled a pool pump electrocution lawsuit. In fact, the vast majority of personal injury lawyers have never handled any type of electricity case at all. Insurance companies and defense firms will know this, and as these cases are known to be very complex and expert-intensive, it will cause them to lower substantially the reserve of what they believe the case will be worth to settle based on the inexperience of the lawyer representing the estate.
Insurance companies also keep track of and know which lawyers go to trial and win – and which ones avoid the courtroom and “settle cases short.”
Attorneys who have proven trial results for electric shock lawsuits and electrocution cases and are known for being willing to go to trial can settle pool pump electrocution cases for more money and often much faster than a lawyer who has never handled such a case, let alone taken a case to trial.
Danger signs of an electrical current in the water
The following danger signs will alert you to the possibility that somebody is suffering from an electrical current in the water: (1) swimmers report feeling a tingling sensation, muscle cramps and/or the inability to move when they are in the water; (2) swimmers are panicked and quickly moving away from the area of a pump; and (3) the pump is not working properly.
How to help someone in danger of a pool pump electrocution
The potentially lifesaving ways to help include: (1) NOT ENTERING THE WATER TO RESCUE A SWIMMER; (2) immediately turning off/cutting off all electrical power to the pool and pump; and (3) using a non-conductive, carbon fiber rod to pull swimmers to safety.
Get a free consultation with an experienced lawyer
If you or someone you love is a victim of serious personal injury or death caused by electricity, you can call and speak with Jeff Feldman, perhaps the nation’s most experienced electrical shock attorney. Jeff has litigated cases involving low hanging power lines and against utility companies in states throughout the country. You can call toll free at (800) 548-0043 for a free consultation.
