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Wrongful Death Lawyer Denver, CO

According to RTV 6 News, the family of a woman who drowned after driving into a retention pond has brought a wrongful death claim against an area developer, a healthcare center and a local grocer (https://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/carmel/wrongful-death-lawsuit-filed-in-pond-drowning-death-of-73-year-old-mother?page=2).

On February 27, 2018, 73-year-old Nancy Gillett was reported missing in the early hours of the morning after she left the Bridgewater Health Care Center in the City of Carmel, Indiana. The event prompted a Silver Alert to be issued statewide, but it ended in tragedy when divers found her car in a retention pond close to the healthcare center days later on March 6. The elderly woman’s body was still inside her car when the vehicle was found.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of Gillett’s adult children, Lara Wickliff and Michael Arnett, when the senior tried to exit the parking lot at the healthcare facility, she ended up going off the access road and right onto the embankment of the retention pond, which led to her car plunging into the water and ultimately caused her drowning death.

Both of the children who filed the lawsuit were present at the scene when the emergency personnel brought Gillett’s body out of the pond, and they have experienced severe emotional distress from the sight and situation.

Listed as defendants in the lawsuit are Bridgewater Healthcare Center, the Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, Lakes Venture, LLC, Lauth Group, Throgmartin-Henke Development and Carey Leasing Co., LLC, all of whom the family alleges controlled, maintained or owned the entire commercial center, including the retention pond and the access road leading to it.

The lawsuit’s paperwork indicates there were no safety barriers to keep someone from going into the pond, nor was there proper warning signage. The family alleges the defendants did not take the steps needed to protect the well-being and health of people all ages, and that the access road leading to the pond and the pond itself are unreasonably dangerous because they lack any type of warning or safety measures at the area where Gillett’s vehicle left the road and entered the water via the steep embankment.

When another person or entity behaves negligently or intentionally and that action or lack of action causes or contributes to someone else’s death, they may be liable for the losses associated with that lost life. Damages awarded in a wrongful death claim vary but may include compensation for pain and suffering, the loss of potential income and punitive damages, which is compensation awarded to punish the negligent party and discourage other people or entitles from behaving in a similar way.

If you have lost a family member or loved one because of someone’s careless or intentional harmful behavior, speak to an experienced wrongful death lawyer Denver, CO trusts  at the Law Office of Richard J. Banta, P.C. about your case today. There are deadlines that vary by state when it comes to filing a wrongful death claim, so if you wait too long, you could lose your right to file a claim and receive compensation for the loss of your loved one.