888-843-8326 Answers can be hard to find after a drowning accident. Families are trying to understand how the incident happened, whether it could have been avoided, and how they will manage medical care, time away from work, or the loss of someone they love.
While those questions are unfolding, important evidence must be preserved. A Charleston drowning accident lawyer from CR Legal Team will secure that evidence, determine who may be liable, and protect your right to seek damages.
Through Whole-Person Legal Care™, our Charleston personal injury lawyers support clients inside and outside the courtroom. We have over 600 years of combined experience and have recovered billions of dollars for clients. We believe in treating our clients with the respect and compassion we would want for our families. Call for a free consultation today.
How Our Drowning Injury Attorneys Serving Charleston Can Help You
After a serious injury or fatal drowning, it is common for families to hear from insurance companies early. This often happens before they have had time to fully understand what happened and determine the full extent of their losses.
Early statements, quick settlement offers, and unanswered questions can make an already stressful situation even harder.
When our law firm handles these cases, we:
- Look carefully into how the accident occurred.
- Preserve photographs, surveillance video, and maintenance records.
- Interview witnesses and document their accounts of what happened.
- Work with safety and medical experts if necessary.
- Identify all liable parties and their insurance policies.
- Calculate current and future losses.
- Negotiate with insurance adjusters.
- Prepare the case for court if we cannot reach a fair settlement agreement.
At CR Legal Team, we know that legal questions are only one part of the process. We keep clients updated, explain each step in plain language, help coordinate important aspects of the claim, and work to resolve problems that arise along the way.
For a free legal consultation with a drowning accident lawyer serving Charleston, call 888-843-8326
Drowning Accident Cases Often Involve More Than One Mistake
Determining why a drowning accident happened is one of the most important parts of a legal claim. In some cases, the evidence shows that preventable safety failures contributed to the incident.
Unsafe conditions may include missing or broken pool gates, poor lighting around the water, inadequate supervision, defective pool drains, missing safety equipment or warning signs, and other hazards at hotels, apartment complexes, water parks, or similar properties.
Charleston Drowning Accident Lawyer Near Me 888-843-8326
What Do You Have to Prove in a Drowning Accident Claim?
Drowning and near-drowning accidents raise questions about what happened and why. A claim or lawsuit focuses on answering those questions with evidence.
It is not enough to show that someone drowned or nearly drowned. You must also show that someone had a responsibility to help keep the area reasonably safe, they failed to meet that responsibility, and their failure contributed to the accident.
This may involve proving that a property owner failed to fix a known hazard or that a business ignored important safety rules. Evidence we may use to support a drowning accident claim includes:
- Inspection documents
- Maintenance reports
- Photographs
- Surveillance video
- Witness statements
- Emergency response records
- Medical records
- Expert opinions (in some cases)
Starting an investigation with a Charleston drowning accident lawyer as soon as possible can help preserve important evidence before it is lost or destroyed.
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More Than One Party May Be Responsible for Covering Losses
Our Charleston drowning accident attorneys will work to identify every party whose carelessness contributed to the accident. We will also determine whether more than one person or business may be responsible for your damages. Liable parties can include:
- Property owners
- Hotels, resorts, and apartment complexes
- Water parks and marinas
- Schools, daycare centers, and summer camps
- Property management or maintenance companies
- Lifeguard companies
- Pool builders
- Manufacturers of defective pool equipment
People turn to CR Legal Team because determining liability and insurance coverage in these cases can be complicated. The insurance available depends on where the accident happened and who was involved.
Your Charleston drowning accident attorney will tell you if a homeowner’s policy, commercial liability coverage, or another insurance policy may apply in your situation.
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Injuries We See in Drowning Accidents in the Charleston Area
Even when someone survives, the effects of a drowning accident can last for years. Injuries commonly seen in these situations include oxygen deprivation-related brain injuries and memory and cognitive problems.
People in recovery may also experience:
- Lung damage and breathing problems
- Broken bones from rescue efforts or falls
- Spinal cord damage
- Lasting disabilities
- Psychological injuries, including anxiety, depression, etc.
Some survivors require ongoing rehabilitation, changes to their homes, or lifelong medical care. Your attorney will consider these future needs when evaluating your claim.
Recoverable Damages After a Charleston Drowning Accident
The damages available in a case depend on the facts of the accident and the losses experienced by the injured person or family.
A personal injury claim may include damages for medical bills, continued therapy, lost pay, changes in earning ability, physical and emotional suffering, permanent disabilities, and how your injuries affect your daily life.
Damages After a Fatal Drowning Accident
When a drowning accident results in someone’s death, no amount of money can replace the person who passed away. If you have lost a family member in such an accident, CR Legal Team is sorry for your loss. We are here for your family.
Our wrongful death lawyers serving Charleston will explain the legal process with compassion while pursuing damages that may include funeral expenses, medical care costs, lost income, and other damages.
For a review of your options and how our Team can help you and your family move forward, call us today for a free consultation.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit in South Carolina?
South Carolina generally gives injured people three years to file a personal injury lawsuit under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5). This law also generally gives families three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit, per S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(6).
Different deadlines may apply in some situations, so consider speaking with a lawyer from our firm as soon as possible.
What Should You Do if Someone Is Hurt in a Drowning Accident?
Call 911 and get emergency help right away. Getting medical care should be your first priority, even if the person seems fine at first. A lack of oxygen can sometimes cause complications that appear hours later, making follow-up treatment important.
As the injured person recovers, keep records related to the accident whenever possible. This may include medical records, bills, photographs, and witness contact information. Following the recommended treatment plan can also help document how the injuries have affected the person’s life.
Before agreeing to a settlement or speaking in detail with an insurance company, it may help to learn about your legal options first. If you contact us immediately after the accident, our law firm can help to secure important evidence before it is no longer available.
Good News: We Stand Up for You® After a Drowning Accident in Charleston
You should not have to figure out a complex drowning accident claim on your own while trying to recover or care for your family. Since opening our firm more than 35 years ago, our Team has remained committed to helping thousands of injured people and their families through life’s most difficult moments.
Guided by our values to Care Like Family, Listen To Learn, and Do What‘s Right, we will work to understand your needs and help you move through every stage of the legal process. At CR Legal Team, We Stand Up For You® and will handle your claim or lawsuit while you recover.
Call us today to learn how our drowning accident lawyers serving Charleston can help you. Your initial case review is free.
