According to the Center for Disease Control, there were over 3,300 deaths caused by drowning or submersion in 2000. This rate is particularly high for children under 16 which represent almost 25% of all drowning victims. About 350 children under 5 drown in pools each year. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for this age group after motor vehicle incidents. Another 2,600 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for near-drowning incidents.

Adding to the tragedy are approximately 5,000 more children who experienced near-drowning emergencies. Many of those suffer permanent neurological disability.

The vast majority of these accidents happen in backyard pools.

Property owners who have a pool on their property are required to have a fence around that area.

Additional safety recommendations include:

• Four-sided isolation fencing at last five feet high
• Self-closing and self-latching gates
• Fencing should enclose the pool and spa entirely, preventing direct access

Other safety precautions include:

• Motion detectors
• Effective pool covers
• Remote cameras

Accidents in and around pools present a very special set of circumstances. Injuries are usually more serious and involve an intricate set of laws. Proving someone's negligence is often difficult and sometimes impossible. Early investigation is essential to handling these cases. Our knowledge of the law coupled with our investigative skills gives Munley, Munley & Cartwright the competitive edge you need on your side.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through team work and the use of our considerable resources and experience. Whether we're gathering evidence, giving advice, or talking with insurance companies, we are always your representative. For a free consultation please submit the below, or call us at: 1-800-318-LAW1