Failure of a lifeguard to adhere to proper standards in the industry causing injury or death constitutes lifeguard negligence.  Lifeguards are often employed in Rhode Island to manage the beach, lake, aquatic center and city pool. They are entrusted to provide safety to everyone participating in water or close by. As a highly trained professional with certifications and extensive training, the lifeguard ensures the well-being of every individual under his or her watch.

Rhode Island Pool & Beach Lifeguard Negligence
Rhode Island Pool & Beach Lifeguard Negligence

While on duty at community pools in Rhode Island, the lifeguard has the responsibility of ensuring the pool occupancy is never exceeded with too many swimmers that could cause congestion and hazards to others.

Lifeguard negligence

Having a lifeguard in Rhode Island supervise the area can dramatically enhance the safety of everyone. Their training to react to numerous harmful situations in their ability to utilize safety equipment maximizes their efforts. Their training in CPR and their ability to administer appropriate and necessary procedures can help save the lives of anyone involved in a potential drowning. The amount of protection they provide is usually measured by their level of alertness, experience and ability to avoid distractions.

Negligent Lifeguard Consequences in RI

Unfortunately, even when lifeguards are providing supervision, drowning accidents still happen. If the reaction time of the lifeguard is not immediate, the well-being of the drowning victim can be compromised. The negligent consequences in some cases can be fatal. Common injuries sustained by the negligence of the lifeguard on duty range from minor conditions to serious life-threatening injury and wrongful death. Many drowning victims in Rhode island and providence Plantations that survive suffer spinal cord injuries and brain trauma, requiring lifelong assistance by medical staff.

Poor judgment of lifeguard can lead to deadly accident

The negligence of the lifeguard in Rhode Island is not always obvious to the victim, eyewitnesses and bystanders. In some cases, the lifeguard used poor judgment momentarily by minimizing much-needed scanning of the area to look for any signs of a distressed swimmer. Other times, the Rhode Island lifeguard might turn away for a moment to talk to others while ignoring a child running alongside a pool or into the water. Because it takes 60 seconds or less for an individual to drown, even just a few moments of lifeguard inattention can end in tragic injuries or death.

Lifeguard certifications and training

Even when lifeguards are taunted by swimmers or field complaints by on-site visitors, it is their main and most crucial responsibility to enforce the rules of the pool or water areas at all times. It is essential that they remain alert to scan every portion of the swimming area including the bottom of the water, surface of the water, diving boards, platforms and walkways. To ensure the safety of everyone, lifeguards in Rhode Island are required to remain up-to-date with their certifications and training to ensure they clearly recognize and respond quickly to every sign of struggle occurring with adults and children.

Hiring a Rhode Island Personal Injury Attorney

When a swimmer is injured in an aquatic accident, they usually also generate extensive medical bills because of the long-term recovery. Many victims suffer psychiatric trauma caused by the fear of near drowning that can debilitate them for years. Others suffer the losses of mental acuity, physical abilities and the capacity to hold a job. Because of their injuries, the victim often needs to hire a Providence lifeguard negligence attorney to assist them in seeking financial compensation.

Drowning or near drowning accident

If you suspect that you or a loved one have suffered serious injuries in a drowning or near drowning accident caused by lifeguard negligence, you likely have the right to file a suit or claim for compensation in providence Superior Court. However, lifeguard accident cases in Rhode Island are complex and often challenging to handle. Because of that, it is recommended that you hire a skilled RI personal injury attorney who handles lifeguard negligence cases. A skilled Rhode Island injury lawyer / attorney can build the case for compensation even if your child’s injured while swimming unsupervised at a neighbor’s home.

Proving delayed lifeguard response

Most successful claims for compensation showed how the lifeguard in charge of the pool area delayed their response to a serious emergency, completely failed to respond to a drowning or near drowning, or did not administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) properly. Hiring a RI injury lawyer can ensure that you receive the adequate compensation you deserve for your serious, life-threatening injury.

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