Summer Attractive Nuisances | Preventing Premises Liability Lawsuits
As temperatures soar in the Heartland, properties across Missouri transform into hazard zones for curious children. At Patterson Legal Group, we’ve seen how summer attractive nuisances like unsecured pools, construction sites, and trampolines cause catastrophic injuries in St. Joseph, Kansas City, and beyond. In this blog, the Missouri injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group share valuable safety tips that could prevent tragedies and protect you from costly lawsuits.
Swimming Pools: Missouri’s Most Dangerous Attractive Nuisance
In neighborhoods from St. Joseph’s South Side to Kansas City’s Brookside district, unguarded pools pose a danger to curious children. Missouri’s attractive nuisance doctrine holds property owners liable when children under 12 are harmed by enticing hazards they can’t appreciate the risks of. Yet our Missouri personal injury lawyer team sees recurring violations, such as:
- Missing four-foot fencing as required by St. Joseph Municipal Code §31
- Unlocked chemical storage near pools in Liberty and Gladstone
- Broken drain covers causing suction entrapment at Lee’s Summit apartments
In addition to drowning risks, unguarded swimming pools and the area surrounding them can lead to other injuries. Our Missouri injury lawyers have represented clients that suffered bone fractures, brain injuries, and slip-and-fall accidents in unsupervised pool areas. Making sure that your pool is properly fenced and secured goes a long way towards preventing these injuries.
Hidden Summer Attractive Nuisances: Construction Projects
Many Missouri homeowners take advantage of summer’s extended daylight hours by making home improvements. This can leave a backyard full of dangerous objects and materials that may be irresistible to curious children. These hazards include improperly stored PVC cement cans that can emit toxic fumes during heat waves and lumber piles that can cause infectious cuts.
If your home is undergoing an extensive renovation ,project, then make sure that all materials are secured. Pay special attention to power tools, which may look like fun toys to kids, but can cause significant injuries, such as severe lacerations, limb damage, and electrocution injuries.
Trampoline Safety: Avoiding Liability in Your Backyard
Trampolines are becoming more and more common in Missouri backyards. Many adults use them as part of their fitness routines, while youngsters love them for the simple joy of jumping. However, when used unsupervised, a quick trip to the trampoline can turn into a visit to the emergency room. In addition to physical injuries like broken bones and soft tissue tears, trampolines can cause infectious diseases. For example, trampoline parts may become rusty from summer humidity and thunderstorms, which can lead to tetanus.
Unlike swimming pools, which have statewide fencing requirements, trampoline fencing laws vary from city to city. The Missouri injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group strongly suggest securing your trampoline and any other summer attractive nuisances in your backyard. Additionally, be sure to inspect any metal parts for rust and sharp edges.
Contact a Missouri Summer Attractive Nuisances Lawyer Near Me
The Missouri injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group hope that you have a better understanding of the dangers posed by summer attractive nuisances. Please use the information above to keep your home safe and help prevent premises liability injuries. Should a member of your family get injured by an attractive nuisance, our team of accomplished trial lawyers is available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can reach Patterson Legal Group by phone at (888) 687-2400, online through LiveChat, or by submitting your consultation request through our secure contact form. Our Midwest injury lawyers have helped injury victims throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado receive more than $250 million in settlements. For the settlement and service that you deserve, reach out to Patterson Legal Group today.
