Consistently ranked TOP TEN in ONTARIO
by Canadian Lawyer MagazineRequest A Consultation
Request A Consultation
Our skilled personal injury legal team and accident benefits specialists are here to help you. Please fill out the consultation form and one of our team members will connect with you for a free consultation.
Look Before You Leap: Shallow Water Diving
There are many ways that people engage in water sports, but often getting into the water means diving from a dock, pier, platform, balcony or boat. These activities, while fun, can be fraught with hidden dangers when diving into unfamiliar waters.
In Ontario, diving related accidents accounted for nearly 60% of all recreation related spinal cord injuries over a 35-year period. This amounts to close to 60 major spinal injuries per year in Ontario alone. Of these reported injuries, 90% result in complete or incomplete quadriplegia. Approximately 50 per cent of victims are 15-24 years of age. The result is that most victims incur long periods of disability and face an enormous financial burden to pay for the care they require.
A person injured diving into a pool or a lake may be able to recover some of their lost wages and future care costs if their accident occurs on private property. Landowners, particularly those with docks and swimming pools, who are aware that the water on their property may be unsuitable for diving, have a duty to warn others of the shallow depth of the water. In addition, under the Occupiers Liability Act, a property owner owes a duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure that people using his or her property are safe.
While a warning sign alone may be enough to lessen liability, injuries may still occur. This risk of injury is enhanced by the annually low water levels that we continue to see in the Upper Great Lakes. It has become more important than ever to look before you leap.
Click here to learn about Oatley Vigmond’s 2016 Summer Water Safety Contest!
Popular Tags
Oatley Vigmond
Personal injury law is all we do. Our skilled team of personal injury lawyers and accident benefits specialists are committed to securing the best possible outcome for those with catastrophic...
Read Bio Read Articles-
Introducing Oatley Vigmond’s Next Generation of Personal Injury Lawyers July 26, 2022
-
Canadian Lawyer Magazine Reveals 2022 Top Personal Injury Boutiques June 1, 2022
-
Ontario Bar Association Announces Jim Vigmond as Recipient of 2022 OBA Award of Excellence in Insurance Law March 4, 2022
-
Oatley Vigmond Lawyers Recognized in 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory February 28, 2022
-
Oatley Vigmond Aims to Bring Holiday Cheer to Four Local Charities by Donating 120 Premium Gingerbread House Kits December 13, 2021