Bakersfield Drowning Accident Lawyer

Maison Law stands up for families who have lost a loved one in a tragic Bakersfield drowning accident caused by someone’s negligence. We help victims hold property owners and parks and recreation departments responsible when victims are allowed access to unsafe pools, lakes, and rivers. To find out how to hold at-fault parties fully accountable for their carelessness, contact a skilled Bakersfield lawyer and schedule a free consultation. It’s a no-risk way to determine how to seek justice and secure support for the family members left behind.

Drowning Accident Hazards

When the weather gets hot, Bakersfield residents can find relief at several city pools, like the pools at McMurtrey Aquatic Center. There are also plenty of swimming opportunities at local hotels and in the backyards of homeowners lucky enough to have their own pools. People can also add some adventure to their swimming with a trip to the banks of the Kern River, or out to the lake at Hart Memorial Park. There are many other cool spots around, but Bakersfield swimmers need to be cautious. Any water excursion can bring with it the risk of drowning. The owners and operators of these pools and parks must do everything they can to protect visitors from drowning and near-drowning risks. When they don’t show this basic care, they can be held liable when swimmers are injured or they tragically lose their lives in an accident that could have been prevented. After a drowning, property owners, homeowners, and local government departments can be held liable for not preventing these hazards and more:

• Providing the proper number of lifeguards.
• Proper training for those lifeguards.
• Providing proper safety devices and first aid for swimmers and disabled guests.
• Maintenance of pools to prevent hazards with drains and other features.
• Removal of slip-and-fall hazards that might send someone into the water while unconscious.
• Preventing overcrowding.
• Providing fencing and security measures to prevent unattended people from entering and suffering harm.
• Putting up warning signs about hazards in natural bodies of water like along rivers, lakes, and ponds. Signs about deep water, underwater obstructions, and strong currents. No swimming signs.
• Keeping swimmers out of the path of careless boaters.

When these dangers are ignored and someone drowns, a Bakersfield drowning accident lawyer can help families file wrongful death cases. These claims hold those who could have done more to prevent drownings responsible for the devastating hurt and the financial damages a sudden death causes. If victims drown due to hazards that swimmers could have been warned about or that could have been fixed, the families of victims can seek wrongful death support. But property and business owners and the City of Bakersfield can afford teams of lawyers to try to get their employers off the hook for an accident. Your lawyer would stop their heartless attempts to blame your loved one or to limit the support your family received. Your Maison Law representative would investigate your case and demand the most in support possible for you and your family.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Bakersfield Drowning?

The owners of pools, their employees, and city, county, state, and federal officials all owe visitors to pools and parks a duty of care. They must take action to keep those who enter pools or step into rivers as safe as possible. In some cases, homeowners and business owners would be responsible for putting up barriers to keep out potential trespassers, especially children. Property owners and farmers could be liable if they don’t do everything possible to warn potential swimmers of the dangers of entering ponds, lakes, rivers, and canals. These property owners and those charged with maintaining pools and natural bodies of water might all be held accountable if a life is lost:

• Property owner or homeowner.
• Business owner or company that invites guests into a waterpark or hotels and resorts featuring pools.
• Paddleboard, kayak, innertube, and boat rental businesses.
• Farmer or agricultural company. When swimmers are allowed into dangerous areas on farms like ponds and canals.
• A Homeowner’s Association (HOA) in charge of maintaining community pools and lakes.
• A landlord over a pool at an apartment complex.
• Government officials.

A day at a local lake or along the river could result in a tragic drowning death. A local or state government entity might be held liable. However, the families of victims should know that filing a wrongful death claim against the government can be complex. Government offices usually hide behind strong protections against lawsuits, such as requiring you to seek permission before you can even file a wrongful death claim. A lawsuit involving the city or county would also be limited by a much shorter statute of limitations. In most drowning cases, families would have up to two years to file a wrongful death claim. When a claim involves a city department, like the Recreation and Parks Department,  that deadline can come much sooner. You may only have months to file. It’s a good idea to have a skilled lawyer handle your case to avoid missing out on your chance to secure support for your loved ones. Finding Support for Families After a Drowning The spouse, domestic partner, and children and grandchildren of the victim can file a wrongful death claim after a preventable drowning. They generally file on behalf of the rest of the family. Anyone who can prove they were financially dependent on the victim could ask for support from an at-fault party. A Bakersfield wrongful death lawyer can also file this claim on behalf of eligible family members. A Maison Law wrongful death attorney would strive to handle the frustrating parts of a personal injury claim while allowing the family time to cope with their loss. These and other factors would determine the size of the wrongful death settlement or judgment:

• Totals on leftover medical bills and ambulance fees.
• Support to pay for a funeral and burial.
• Reimbursement for the wages the victim can no longer contribute to the family in the years to come.
• The emotional hardships a family endures and will continue to endure. Children must receive support for the love and guidance they’ll miss out on in the years ahead.
• Cost of psychological counseling for family members to help them cope with the loss.
• Loss of consortium. (The lost support of a spouse or partner)

Can I Seek Support If My Child Is Taken in a Drowning Accident?

Parents who lose small children to drowning would also be allowed to seek support. They’d seek support for the loss of love and companionship a child can no longer provide. The life expectancy of the child would help determine how much in support a family should receive for the years they’ll never get back in the future. Nothing can bring back a loved one, but these awards serve to earn justice for victims and help families avoid financial hardships in the future.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Bakersfield Drowning Accident Lawyer

After a careless drowning accident claims the life of a loved one, take action to seek justice from a negligent property owner or business owner.  Contact the skilled Bakersfield Drowning Accident Lawyers at Maison Law, for a free consultation and case evaluation. It’s a no-risk way to find out how to keep an at-fault party from avoiding blame and how to secure every benefit possible for your family after a tragedy. And don’t worry about having the money to hire an attorney. Maison Law fights for the rights of families on a contingency basis. It means we don’t get paid unless we win the case for your family. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check or judgment your family receives.