Causes Of New Jersey Hotel & Motel Swimming Pool Accidents And Injuries

by Daniel J. O'Brien [email protected]iteandwilliams.com

Published: 7/17/12

With summer in full swing, many people and families go on vacation and stay in hotels or motels.

Swimming in hotel or motel pools is often a popular activity with hotel/motel guests and their families.  It is often the activity of choice for children, no matter how old they are.

Unfortunately, swimming pool accidents and injuries also often occur.  Swimming pool accidents are usually caused by one or more of the following:

• improperly designed and constructed pools;
• failure to properly secure a pool from small children;
• failure to maintain the swimming pool in good condition;
• inadequate supervision; and
• inadequate warning signs.

In New Jersey, the safety of swimming pools and public recreational bathing is governed by N.J.S.A. 26:4A-4  to N.J.S.A. 26:4A-7, and N.J.A.C. 8:26-5.1 to N.J.A.C. 8:26-5.14.

Under New Jersey law, some hotels/motels that have pools are not required to have a lifeguard on duty; however, the hotel must post the following signs:

• No lifeguard on duty;
• Persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult;
• No swimming alone; and
• The pool shall be closed when the owner or manager is not on the premises.

Just because a hotel is exempt from having a lifeguard at the pool does not mean the hotel cannot be sued. There are other causes of action and can involve three other types of law:

• negligence or tort law;
• product liability law; or
• premises liability law.

However, these laws are complex and each case needs to be examined carefully by an experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyer who knows how to handle swimming pool accident and injury cases.

Help After Injured In A New Jersey Swimming Pool Accident:

If you were injured in a swimming pool accident, you should not have to suffer because of someone else's negligence.  Contact our New Jersey personal injury lawyer for a free case evaluation @ 877.944.8396.