CCD Law of Coeur d’Alene safeguards families after they’ve lost a loved one to a drowning incident. We hold pool and lake owners and operators, and in some cases, city and state agencies, fully responsible for any negligence that leads to a tragic death. Contact a skilled drowning accident attorney to get a free wrongful death case consultation. It’s an easy, no-obligation way to determine how to hold an insurance company fully responsible for your family’s hardships after a terrible accident.
Should I Call a Lawyer After Losing a Family Member in a Drowning?
After a tragic drowning, families must cope with emotional and financial hardships. An at-fault party should be held accountable for these and other damages, but those to blame for a drowning don’t always accept liability when they should.
Your Coeur d’Alene drowning accident lawyer is there to make sure those responsible for the operation of pools, rivers, and lakes can’t escape blame. They’ll have lawyers, and perhaps teams of lawyers, ready to fight back, but you’ll have your own legal protection in place. Your lawyer fully investigates your case, collects evidence, and demands the most possible in support for your family.
Drowning Dangers in Northern Idaho
Coeur d’Alene is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and crystal-clear lakes and rivers are a big part of the reason why. Lake Coeur d’Alene draws in tourists every summer for swimming and boating vacations. People hop in the water at City Beach or Sanders Beach or drive over to Hayden Lake to find even more shoreline to enjoy. They may seek out a swimming hole along the Spokane River or at a nearby hot springs.
With tourism a major draw, there are plenty of hotels and resorts that feature pools on the amenities list. Water parks like Raptors Reef combine splash time with fast-paced thrills.
These are the amazing features around Northern Idaho, but people must be careful when entering the water. They must also be able to count on business and property owners, and government agencies to warn of swimming dangers and make swimming areas as safe as possible. When they fail in this duty and people end up losing their lives in drowning incidents, families are empowered to seek justice and financial support.
Local pool and beach owners and operators work hard to maintain swimming areas and keep them safe for visitors, but employees and managers can get careless. The negligence in failing to spot a hazard
These are just a few of the hazards that can lead to injuries, near-drownings, and drownings on waters in and around Coeur d’Alene:
- Failure to provide lifeguards, enough lifeguards, or proper training for lifeguards.
- Failure to post warnings about hazards like underwater obstructions, swift currents, and sudden depth changes. “No Swimming” signs in appropriate places.
- Failure to provide proper safety gear around beaches and pools. No lifejackets.
- Life-threatening safety issues with lake cruise tours, fishing charters, boat and paddleboard rental companies, and other businesses that utilize the water.
- Slip-And-Fall and Trip-And-Fall hazards along docks, piers, and boardwalks that can send people into the water.
- Waterpark injuries and drowning risk.
- Failure in pool and ride maintenance that causes someone to drown. Malfunctioning pumps and filters.
- Drowning hazards caused by other beachgoers.
- Overcrowding risks.
- Failure to keep boaters away from swimming areas.
After a tragic drowning, a CCD attorney works to hold those responsible accountable. The hope is that our attorneys can protect families from the frustrations of the wrongful death claims process while giving them as much time as possible to grieve in peace.
A lawyer fights for justice and to secure the support families need to pay the immediate bills after a tragedy. Our skilled attorneys also focus on securing the support the families will need in the years ahead when they’ll be without the love and guidance of a loved one.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Drowning in Coeur d’Alene?
There may be more than one private and public entity liable for a loved one’s death. Your CCD lawyer identifies every responsible party and files multiple claims if necessary. This gives families a better chance of securing all of the money they need to pay current damages and those hardships that will arise in the future.
These are just a few of the parties that could be responsible for providing your family with a settlement check:
- Property owners and homeowners responsible for pools, ponds, and lakes.
- HOA or Apartment Management Companies in charge of community pools and lakes.
- Recreation business owners. Owners of waterparks, boat tours, and paddleboard rental companies.
- Pier and dock operators.
- Hotel chains and resort owners.
- The City of Coeur d’Alene
- County, State, and Federal Agencies over parks, lakes, rivers and forest land.
Families must be cautious when a government department like Coeur d’Alene’s Parks and Recreation is responsible for a drowning or injury. Government agencies have special protections in place that make it harder for families to seek support after an accident.
Some government agencies make victims file paperwork to seek permission to file wrongful death claims. Governmental departments also will enforce a shorter statute of limitations on families. They may only have months to file a claim or lose their opportunity to seek justice against City, State, County, or Federal agencies.
Compensation Available for Families After a Tragic Drowning
Your Crary & Domanico, P.S., representative documents every hardship your family has faced and will face in the aftermath of a drowning. These factors are compiled into a list and submitted with a wrongful death claim provided to the liability insurance company involved.
It’s an important step because anything left off can be a cost the family would have to cover. These expenses and difficulties should all be the responsibility of the at-fault party and the party’s insurance provider.
Your lawyer ensures that these and other hardships are all considered when reaching a fair amount for a wrongful death settlement check or court judgment:
- Funeral and burial expenses.
- Money to pay leftover medical bills and ambulance fees.
- Loss of future earnings that would have supported the family financially.
- The value of the household chores and upkeep the victim would have continued to provide.
- Support for a family’s emotional suffering.
- Support for the emotional loss parents will endure after the tragic death of a child. Support should be provided for the loss of companionship and love in the decades ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim after a drowning?
Idaho allows families up to two years to file a wrongful death claim. If families miss this deadline, the case would likely be thrown out. Remember that lawsuits involving the City of Coeur d’Alene or Kootenai County may have a much shorter statute of limitations.
What if my family can’t afford a drowning accident lawyer?
You won’t need to worry about paying a CCD Lawyer until we’ve won your case for you. We only get paid if we are successful on your behalf. Then our fee comes out of the drowning settlement your family receives.
Who can file a wrongful death drowning claim in Idaho?
In Idaho, a personal representative of the victim’s estate can file. Heirs, a spouse, and children of the victim could also file on behalf of the family. Other relatives that could show they were dependent on the victim could file.
Contact a Coeur d’Alene Drowning Accident Attorney
Speak with a Coeur d’Alene Drowning Accident Lawyer at CCD Law about your case as soon as possible before evidence disappears and witnesses become hard to locate. Contact us to receive a free case consultation. It’s an easy way to find out how to hold negligent property and business owners, or local government agencies fully accountable after a heartbreaking drowning incident.
There’s no obligation and your case review is completely confidential. We want to stand by your family during this difficult time. CCD Law fights to see families receive the support they need to rebuild their lives. We work with families in Northern Idaho, Spokane, and anywhere in the nation after suffering an accident in the area. We are also careful to cause as little disruption to families as possible so they can mourn their losses in peace.
