For many California families, an above-ground pool offers a refreshing escape during our warm summers. A recent and alarming recall impacts approximately 5 million above-ground pools manufactured by Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, highlighting a hidden danger that has tragically led to the deaths of nine young children.
These pools have been sold since 2002 at major retailers like Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Amazon, and Wayfair all share a critical design flaw: external compression straps. These straps are Intended to provide structural integrity however these straps can also create a foothold that allow young children, some as young as 22 months old to climb into the pool unsupervised. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports nine child drownings linked to this defect, underscoring the severe risk these pools pose.
The recall specifically targets pools 48 inches or taller that utilize these compression straps, ranging in price from $400 to over $1,000. It’s a stark reminder that even products designed for enjoyment can harbor dangerous defects.
What California Pool Owners Need to Do Immediately: If you own an above-ground pool purchased since 2002, it is crucial to act now.
- Check Your Pool: Locate the brand name and model number on the pool liner. A comprehensive list of recalled models is available on the CPSC website (www.PoolSafely.gov).
- Contact for a Free Repair Kit: Do not delay. Contact the manufacturers for a free repair kit that replaces the hazardous compression strap with a safer alternative.
- Bestway: 844-593-4003 or Bestway Recall Support
- Intex: 800-549-8829 or Intex Recall
- Polygroup: 888-621-4137 or Polygroup Recall
- Ensure Child Safety: Until the repair kit is installed, it is absolutely essential to prevent children from accessing the pool unattended. Consider draining the pool if supervision cannot be constant.
Manufacturers have a legal responsibility to ensure their products are safe for consumers. When a product, due to a design defect, manufacturing flaw, or inadequate warnings, causes injury or death, victims and their families may have grounds for a product liability claim. The drownings associated with these pools highlight a design flaw that created an unforeseen and fatal hazard. If your family has been impacted by an injury or wrongful death related to a recalled above-ground pool, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and in the devastating case of a fatality, wrongful death damages. Recalls can be a critical step in addressing a serious safety issue. For the families who have already suffered unimaginable loss, it’s a painful reminder of a preventable tragedy.
We represent people injured as a result of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. Insurance companies have paid our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation because we uncover the facts. When insurance companies fail to offer full compensation, we are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com
