Weaver Law Injury Attorneys is ready to stand by local families after a tragic drowning at Buford Dam Beach. Government agencies in charge of Lake Lanier can be held financially liable for allowing unsafe conditions that lead to drownings. Families who have precious loved ones taken from them should get justice and receive support from those found at fault.
Don’t wait to seek help for your family in the aftermath of a tragedy. For a free wrongful death case consultation, contact us today.
Should My Family Contact a Lawyer After a Drowning on Lake Lanier?
If families lose a loved one to a drowning accident on Lake Lanier and they feel lake owners and operators were to blame, they should talk over their cases with a skilled Buford Dam Drowning Accident Lawyer.
Families will struggle to cope with such a heartbreaking loss, and at the same time, they can face enormous financial burdens. Close relatives may have to find the money to pay for ambulance fees and funeral expenses. These bills come at a time when they are also without the income the victim may have contributed to support the family each month.
Those to blame for drownings should be the first to help, but government agencies can afford teams of lawyers to find ways to avoid accepting responsibility. A Gainesville GA Drowning Accident Lawyer on your side can investigate the accident and those at fault, and keep the blame where it belongs. A skilled lawyer is also often able to secure much more in support for families than they could secure by handling their cases themselves.
Who Is Responsible If My Loved One Drowns at Buford Dam Beach?
The US Army Corps of Engineers built Buford Dam and still sees to its operation. The federal agency is in charge of Buford Dam Park. It’s a popular spot for picnicking, hiking, basketball and soccer games, and swimming along Buford Dam Beach.
The Corps charges $8 a car to get into the park, but the government must do more for visitors than just take their money. Under Georgia premises liability laws, the U.S. Government must see to the safety of every person who enters. If park managers and employees create a hazard or ignore safety precautions and someone drowns, the government agency is liable for the death. Park operators must also protect visitors from the hazardous actions of other guests.
Under Georgia’s wrongful death laws, families can file claims against any city, county, state, or federal government entity if its actions lead to unsafe conditions and someone drowns as a result. Some beaches may even have “Swim at Your Own Risk” signs posted. However, the Corps of Engineers can still be found liable for mistakes they make that put swimmers at extra risk.
Unfortunately, the federal government can hide behind special protections against litigation and will have teams of lawyers to attack your case when your family seeks justice. In many cases, families will benefit from having a skilled Gainesville Drowning Accident Lawyer at their side to even the legal battle ahead. It’s also a way the family can hand the case over to an experienced lawyer, and take that time to focus on mourning the loss of a precious loved one.
Buford Dam Beach Drowning Dangers
Buford Dam Beach is a restricted area for boats and other watercraft. A reckless boater is one hazard swimmers shouldn’t have to worry about. Yet, there are many other risks that those enjoying the beach and the water are exposed to.
The dangers that cause drownings are often preventable when government departments focus on safety and precautions. They must clean up and repair hazards that might send someone into the water. They must also take the proper action to get victims the help they need as fast as possible.
These are just a few of the types of negligence that can leave local and federal government departments liable for drownings:
- A lack of warning signs about lake dangers, such as underwater obstacles and sudden drop-offs
- Failure to place “no swimming” signs in appropriate spots near the beach
- Inadequate fences and barriers to keep swimmers away from dangerous spots
- A lack of lifeguards
- Drowning risks around hazardous dams and spillways
- Trip-and-Fall hazards along boardwalks and fishing piers that can send unconscious people into the water, such as at the Buford Dam Fishing Pier
A skilled Gainesville Lake Lanier Drowning Lawyer fully investigates the accident and the agency involved. The evidence collected is used to build a strong case that at-fault parties can wiggle their way out of.
What to Look Out For When Filing Wrongful Death Claims Against the Government
When heartbreaking drownings occur on Lanier Lake, a business operating on the lake or an individual may be to blame. If this were the case, families of the victim would have up to two years from the date of the death to file a wrongful death claim.
When a government agency is at fault, the deadline can come much quicker, unfortunately. Government entities like the City of Gainesville, Hall County, or the Army Corps of Engineers are partly protected from lawsuits over accidents.
The deadlines are shorter, and families may only have a few months to file a wrongful death claim or forfeit their right to seek support. Governments can also require you to file complicated paperwork explaining the accident and why you feel your family should be provided financial support. In some ways, you are asking the government for permission to file a wrongful death claim against it.
Cases against governmental agencies can be complex. That’s why it’s often a good idea for families to turn their cases over to skilled Drowning Accident Lawyers. A lawyer ensures you meet all deadlines and pressures government agencies to accept full responsibility for a tragedy. A lawyer can often secure much more in support for families than those families could win by filing a claim themselves.
Support Available for Families After a Drowning on Lake Lanier
Families will deal with incredible grief after a drowning tragedy. They’ll also find bills starting to show up in their mailboxes. The bills that are left over after an accident can serve to bankrupt families at such a vulnerable time.
These costs should never be left to the family to pay. Your attorney would demand full support for every hardship a family faces immediately after a tragedy, and those hardships that come in the years ahead.
These are just a few of the damages that families should receive financial help with:
- Rescue and ambulance fees
- Medical costs if a victim doesn’t pass away immediately
- Funeral and burial costs
- The loss of emotional support and guidance in the years ahead
- The loss of companionship in the future in the case of a child’s drowning
- The loss of sharing special life events with the deceased, such as graduations, weddings, and births
- The loss of income that the deceased can no longer provide to support close family members, like a spouse and children
Talk to a Gainesville Drowning Accident Lawyer Now
If you’ve lost a loved one to a drowning accident on or around Lake Lanier or anywhere in Northern Georgia, contact Weaver Law Injury Attorneys today. We’ve been serving Georgia victims and their families for more than 20 years and continue to help families earn more to rebuild their lives.
We offer a free consultation to all family members. Contact us to schedule a confidential meeting. We want to answer your questions and go over the best options for the family.
If you do need our help to earn what’s fair for your family, you won’t need any money to hire our Lake Lanier Drowning Accident Lawyers. We don’t accept any money unless we win your case. Upon a case victory, we are paid out of the settlement or court judgment that a government agency has to pay your family.
