Who do you hold accountable for a loved one’s drowning accident? Moreover, how do you pay the bills that come with a drowning accident while also giving yourself space to grieve a loved one’s unexpected passing? When in doubt, you can reach out for help. Carmel drowning accident lawyers can investigate your loved one’s passing and act on your behalf.
Vaughan & Vaughan employs several personal injury lawyers in Carmel who stand prepared to advocate for your right to a peaceful recovery and financial support. Our free case evaluations let you learn more about the civil process and outline the different legal paths that may lead to a less financially stressful recovery.
When to Take Action on Behalf of a Drowning Victim
If you believe someone else bears the blame for a loved one’s fatal drowning, you have the right to work with a Carmel personal injury lawyer to file a personal injury claim against them. You must, however, meet certain criteria. For starters, you must prove that you operate as the deceased personal representative.
Indiana does not allow other parties, including family members, to take action on behalf of the deceased unless they fill this role.
Indiana Code section 34-11-2-4 also dictates how much time you may take to bring a case against an offending party. You need to find the evidence to meet Indiana’s burden of proof within two years of your loved one’s passing, or else Indiana courts may waive your right to take legal action on that person’s behalf.
It doesn’t seem fair to work against that strict of a deadline when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. Fortunately, you don’t have to build a case alone. You can call a drowning accident attorney in Carmel to help represent your best interests while you prioritize celebrating your loved one’s life.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
How to Take Action on Behalf of a Drowning Victim
Drowning accident attorneys in Carmel, IN, bring a particular degree of expertise to your pursuit of justice on behalf of a deceased loved one. We recommend that you take certain steps that may help you develop a case against the party allegedly responsible for your loved one’s passing.
Meeting Indiana’s Burden of Proof
Before you can go before a judge and argue for your right to compensation, you need to gather evidence to prove that a specific party or parties owed your loved one a duty of care at the time they drowned. The evidence that you use to build your case can include an analysis of the accident scene, statements from bystanders, and even video footage of the accident.
Our team understands that exposing you to this evidence may re-traumatize you. That’s why we don’t make you return to the scene of the accident. If you choose to work with an attorney, we serve as an extension of you. We can go to the scene, gather the evidence, conduct an analysis of that evidence, and compile it into a finalized claim.
All the while, we can keep you up to date on the progress of our investigation so that the process of building your personal injury claim remains as transparent as possible. You can learn more about our services during a free case evaluation with Vaughan & Vaughan’s personal injury attorneys in Carmel.
Paying Your Bills
No one understands how expensive death is until it comes into their lives. A loved one’s fatal drowning can leave you with extensive medical bills, funeral expenses, and a substantial cost of recovery. How do you pay all those bills? If you find you have legal recourse against a particular party, you can demand that they provide you with financial support.
You can specifically request compensation for the economic and non-economic losses that both you and a deceased loved one endure due to that offending party’s negligence. These losses can range from the cost of a loved one’s medical expenses to the cost of a funeral. You can even demand financial support for losses that don’t generate a dollar value, including stress.
How do you determine what losses to integrate into a drowning accident claim? Ask a caramel drowning accident attorney. We can help you maximize the damage you can include in a personal injury claim so that you can come away from an exchange with a liable party with the support you need to recover.
There is no fee
unless you win
What to Expect After Filing a Drowning Accident Claim in Carmel
Filing a drowning accident claim does not obligate you to go to trial. You get to choose how your case proceeds so long as a judge moves your case forward. This means that you can negotiate with the party allegedly liable for your loved one’s passing. That said, our team understands that you may not want to meet with that person.
It’s up to you to decide whether or not you want to pursue a bench trial or a jury trial. We can work with you to determine which course toward comprehensive compensation best suits your personal interests.
The State Can Charge a Liable Party With Criminal Intent
Unfortunately, you, as a private citizen, cannot accuse another party of criminal behavior in such a way as to make them face criminal consequences for their actions. Only the state can make criminal accusations against another body.
However, in the face of a fatal drowning, the state may choose to take legal action against the party allegedly responsible for your loved one’s passing. Should the state act in such a way, make a note of it. Have your attorney keep an ear out for updates on that criminal case.
Why is this so important? If Indiana criminal courts convict another party and charge them with responsibility for your loved one’s passing, said conviction can benefit your civil case. Specifically, Indiana civil judges can recognize criminal convictions as proof of negligence in a civil case.
In other words, a criminal conviction makes it easier for you to receive compensation for a loved one’s drowning accident.
Let Attorneys Help You Navigate Your Case
If you have the right to take a loved one’s drowning case to civil court, don’t wait. The timer on your statute of limitations is already ticking. You can connect with the drowning accident lawyers in Carmel to discuss who you can hold liable for your losses and what kind of financial support you can expect from your case.
The efforts of Vaughan & Vaughan personal injury lawyers can help your family overcome your most immediate financial burdens without exacerbating the grief you’re dealing with. Are you ready to learn more? Contact us today to book a no-obligation case evaluation free of charge.
