Virginia Graeme Baker Act
What is the Virginia Graeme Baker Act?
Fatal and catastrophic pool and spa injuries have devastated the lives of families and children for decades as a result of a lack of safety regulations concerning pool systems, safety equipment and pool maintenance. Too many children were endangered by the use of dangerous pool and spa equipment, including Graeme Baker who died in 2002 from being trapped underwater by the suction from a spa drain. This led to the ultimate enactment of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) on Dec. 19, 2008; a monumental victory for the Baker family and the safety of families at large. This Act prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of suction outlets and covers which are not properly certified. It requires all public pools and spas to have equipment intended to prevent death or injury through entrapment, evisceration, or entanglement.
If you have a loved one who has been injured or suffered a fatal injury in a pool or spa accident consult a Texas drowning accident attorney who can evaluate the circumstances to identify violations of this and other safety regulations.
Pool Accident Lawyer in Texas
Many families take advantage of public pools at hotels, motels, clubs and spas as a way to "beat the heat" or just to play. An enjoyable family event can quickly turn tragic when in a pool which is not carefully inspected for damage, cleaned regularly enough or when safety and rescue equipment is not provided. Broken or missing drain covers can trap a child unless certain safety equipment has been installed and is operational. Water that is not clear can prevent someone in trouble from being noticed in time.
When this or some other disaster occurs in a pool it is important to take pictures of the water, the pool and the surrounding areas to document the exact conditions at the time before anything can be changed. Collecting the names and contact information of anyone present will prove crucial to your case. A drowning accident lawyer at our firm can use photographs and witness testimony when holding liable parties accountable.
Our legal team is diligent in seeking answers to questions about the cause of the accident and demanding compensation for your damages. Consult Jesse E. Guerra Jr. concerning your loved one's injuries and find out how we can help.
Contact a Texas drowning accident attorney at our firm to fight aggressively on behalf of a client injured when safety laws were violated.
