In Need of a Drowning Accident Death Attorney?

A drowning death is one of the most devastating and unexpected tragedies a Georgia family can face. Whether it happens in a private swimming pool, a lake, a river, at an apartment complex, a hotel, or during a recreational outing, the loss is sudden, overwhelming, and permanently life-altering. Families often leave the scene with no answers, no explanation, and no understanding of how such a preventable tragedy occurred.

Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm represents families across Georgia who have lost loved ones in fatal drowning accidents. Our attorney understands that these cases require meticulous investigation, a deep understanding of Georgia premises liability laws, and a compassionate approach to families navigating unbearable grief. When a drowning occurs because someone failed to act safely, Georgia law gives families the right to pursue justice and accountability.

Understanding Drowning Accident Deaths in Georgia

Drowning deaths happen far more often than people realize. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies drowning as a leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States, particularly among children.

Georgia communities, from Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, Augusta, to smaller rural counties, see dozens of drowning deaths every year. Many of these deaths are preventable when proper supervision, safety equipment, and maintenance are in place.

Some of the most common locations for drowning deaths in Georgia include:

• Apartment complex pools.
• Private residential pools.
• Community and HOA pools.
• Hotels, motels, and resort pools.
• Lakes and recreational areas are maintained by cities or counties.
• Public waterways such as Lake Lanier, the Chattahoochee River, Lake Allatoona, and coastal marsh areas.
• Boating and watercraft environments.
• Daycare or summer camp swimming environments.

In many cases, drowning accidents occur because someone responsible for safety made a preventable mistake.

Why Drowning Accident Deaths Occur

Drowning deaths rarely happen in silence or without warning. They are usually caused by a chain of failures that allows danger to go unnoticed or ignored.

Common causes of drowning accident deaths in Georgia include:

• Lack of Supervision

One of the most common causes is failure to monitor swimmers, especially children. Apartment complexes, hotels, campgrounds, and childcare facilities may be liable when lifeguards or supervisors are absent, distracted, or inadequately trained.

• Faulty or Missing Barriers

Georgia property owners are required to maintain reasonable pool safety barriers. Missing gates, broken locks, inadequate fencing, or propped-open access points create dangerous conditions that allow children or guests to access a pool unsupervised.

• Unsafe Pool Conditions

Many drowning deaths occur in pools with cloudy water, defective drains, missing depth markers, slippery surfaces, or malfunctioning pumps.

• Lifeguard Negligence

Lifeguards who are poorly trained, inattentive, or absent when required can create liability for the facility.

• Alcohol or Drug Impairment at Recreational Locations

Boat operators, pool patrons, and resort activities can become deadly when supervision breaks down or operators disregard safety.

• Dangerous Natural Water Conditions

Georgia lakes and rivers can have hidden drop-offs, sudden currents, debris, and other underwater hazards that should be flagged or managed by the responsible entity.

• Boat and Watercraft Collisions

Drowning may occur after boating accidents, jet-ski crashes, or capsizing incidents caused by negligent operation.

When negligence leads to a drowning death, Georgia law allows the family to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Georgia Drowning Death Laws: What Families Need to Know

Drowning cases fall under Georgia’s wrongful death statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 through 51-4-5. These laws allow surviving family members to hold negligent parties accountable for the “full value of the life” of the person who died.

Families may pursue two separate legal actions:

Wrongful Death Claim

This claim seeks compensation for:

• Lost income and earning potential.
• The value of life experiences that the victim will never have.

Georgia employs a unique “full value of life” standard that assesses value from the deceased’s perspective.

Estate Claim

Handled by the victim’s estate, this claim seeks damages for:

• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Medical care before death.
• Conscious pain and suffering.

Who May File a Georgia Wrongful Death Claim

The order is strictly dictated by law:

1. Surviving spouse.
2. Surviving children (if no spouse).
3. Surviving parents (if no spouse or children).
4. Estate representative (if no immediate family).

Families often inadvertently file claims incorrectly because they are unsure of their rights or the law; our attorneys ensure the proper claimant is identified and that all applicable statutes are complied with.

Who May Be Liable for a Drowning Accident Death in Georgia

Many drowning cases involve more than one responsible party. Georgia law allows claims against individuals, businesses, property owners, or government entities whose negligence contributed to the tragedy.

Potentially liable parties include:

• Apartment complex owners and management companies.
• Hotel or resort operators.
• Private homeowners.
• HOAs or community pool managers.
• Lifeguard companies or staffing agencies.
• Daycare centers or summer camps.
• Boat operators or rental companies.
• Municipalities are responsible for lakes, public pools, or water recreation areas.
• Manufacturers of defective pool drains, pumps, or safety equipment.

Identifying responsibility requires a detailed investigation, which is something Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm conducts immediately to prevent evidence from disappearing.

Why Drowning Accident Death Cases Are Different

Drowning investigations require technical experience because evidence can deteriorate quickly. Water conditions change by the hour, witness accounts fade, and defective equipment can be repaired or replaced before the family even knows what happened.

These cases often require:

• Expert analysis of pool maintenance records.
• Inspection of safety barriers, gates, alarms, and drainage systems.
• Interviews with witnesses, staff, supervisors, and first responders.
• Review of surveillance footage from hotels, apartment complexes, and recreation areas.
• Analysis of lifeguard training logs and staffing policies.
• Examination of property owner inspection routines

Our attorneys understand the applicable standards of care across various facilities, from public pools to private residences, and we can identify violations that can lead to fatal injuries.

How Insurance Companies Handle Drowning Death Claims

Insurance carriers often fight drowning death claims aggressively, and grieving families rarely expect the pushback they receive until they feel they have nowhere else to turn.

Common insurer tactics include:

• Blaming the victim for entering the water.
• Claiming the drowning was “unforeseeable.”
• Arguing the person knew the risks.
• Denying the property owner responsibility.
• Disputing whether warnings were required.
• Minimizing the value of the life lost.

Our attorneys know these strategies well. We confront insurers directly, relying on evidence, expert testimony, and Georgia law.

Building a Strong Drowning Accident Death Case

Our team conducts a thorough, independent investigation to uncover the actual cause of the drowning and identify every responsible party.

We gather:

• Surveillance footage.
• Pool chemical logs and maintenance records.
• Witness statements.
• Emergency response timelines.
• Gate and lock inspection records.
• Manufacturer documentation for drains or pumps.
• Weather and water condition reports.
• Facility policies and training manuals.

We often work with:

• Aquatic safety experts.
• Pool engineering specialists.
• Marine accident reconstructionists.
• Pediatric drowning experts.

Our goal is to ensure no one can hide behind inadequate reports or self-serving investigations.

Georgia’s Statute of Limitations for Drowning Accident Deaths

Most wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. Certain circumstances, such as criminal investigations, can pause (“toll”) this deadline, but families should not rely on exceptions.

Time matters because:

• Evidence deteriorates
• Witnesses disappear
• Facilities repair or replace equipment
• Surveillance footage is deleted

Our attorneys take immediate steps to secure and preserve evidence before it vanishes.

Why Choose Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm for a Georgia Drowning Accident Death Case

Families choose our firm because:

• We focus exclusively on Georgia wrongful death cases.
• We understand drowning case complexities.
• We uncover evidence others overlook.
• We challenge insurers who deny accountability.
• We provide clear communication during every step.
• We are prepared to take cases to trial when necessary.
• We honor the value of your loved one’s life with the respect it deserves.

No family should face this tragedy alone, and no grieving parent or spouse should have to fight a property owner or insurer without an advocate.

Speak With the Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm Today

If your family lost a loved one in a drowning accident in Georgia, you deserve answers and justice. Wrongful Death Krause Law Firm is here to protect your family’s rights, uncover the truth, and pursue full compensation under Georgia law. You pay nothing unless we recover for your family.

Call 404-835-8080 or contact us online for a free consultation. Your loved one mattered. Your family’s future matters. And we are here to help.