It’s heating up here in Memphis, with warmer days, longer nights, and soaring temperatures. As spring rolls into summer, many of us will spend even more time outdoors. That means baseball games, barbecues, and pool parties.

Like many of you, I’ll be cheering on my favorite sports teams and enjoying a hot dog or two in the coming weeks and months. But as a Memphis personal injury lawyer, I also want to remind you about premises liability. I know those two words may not sound terribly exciting, but it’s an important legal concept to know if you’re hosting any outdoor gatherings this summer, especially if you own a pool or a trampoline.

In the eyes of the courts, hosts have a responsibility to keep guests safe. I’ve seen many celebrations take a turn for the worse, with terrible legal consequences, so I want to give you the tips you need to enjoy your time with family and friends.

What is Premises Liability?

Have you ever wondered, “What would happen if someone is injured on my property?” Questions along those lines involve an important, but nuanced, legal concept referred to as “premises liability.”

If a landowner is deemed negligent in the maintenance of his property, he could be held responsible if someone is injured. Now, whether or not he is negligent can be tricky to determine, and that’s why it’s really critical to work with an experienced Memphis personal injury lawyer. Some of it relates to who was injured, and why he or she was there.

Swimming Pool Safety and Liability

Sadly, it does not take much for a swimming outing to turn from fun to dangerous, especially for little ones. Drowning is a leading injury-related cause of death for children under 14.

In premises liability cases, pools are considered attractive nuisances. That means pool owners can be held responsible for injuries if their pool is not sufficiently safeguarded. This can apply even if the injured party trespassed onto your property to enter your pool.

Take These Precautions to Safeguard Your Pool

  • Protect your pool from trespassers. Limit access with a solid fence and lock.
  • Keep a first aid kit and automatic defibrillator on hand.
  • Supervise anyone using your pool.
  • Properly maintain the pool’s ladders, stairs, slides, diving boards, and drainage systems.

Get Help From a Memphis Personal Injury Lawyer

For more than 30 years, we have helped people in Memphis who were injured because of others’ negligence. I hope that the information we have provided here can help keep your family safe, but accidents happen and we are here for you when they do.

If you think you have a personal injury case, our team of attorneys will fight for you and the compensation you deserve. Call (901) 327-1212 today for a free consultation or contact us online.