Toxic Mold: What Are Your Legal Options?

Toxic mold can cause a number of symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, and infections of the respiratory tract. In individuals with asthma, it can cause episodes of asthma and associated difficulty breathing. In people with immune-compromised systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, it can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Evidence shows that toxic mold can cause fever, shortness of breath, and respiratory illness.

Mold: A Common Condition Grown Dangerous

Mold can be found everywhere and is fairly common. You’ve likely seen mold on cheese or bread. This kind of mold is generally harmless.

A type of black mold, though, is termed toxic if it grows or spreads beyond those isolated incidents and becomes part of the habitable environment.

Mold is made up of spores that travel. It is very likely to occur in poorly ventilated areas with high degrees of moisture. Inadequately ventilated public buildings and homes can develop mold that threatens the health of their occupants.

Mold can grow exponentially on building materials, such as wood, plaster, cellulose, and paper. Attics and basements are common areas for mold because they are more likely to be poorly ventilated and may not be visited/cleaned frequently.

How Do You Know If Toxic Mold Is Harming You?

Be aware of the symptoms.

The symptoms frequently mimic those of allergies or flu, with red, runny noses, tearing eyes, shortness of breath, and wheezing. If you have asthma, you may have more frequent or severe bouts.

If you have been receiving treatment in a hospital for cancer, you may have an episode of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Mold can, of course, also harm property. A house with toxic mold can be damaged structurally and all the household goods can be damaged, requiring thorough cleaning or disposal.

Who Is Responsible for Toxic Mold?

A wide number of people and entities are potentially liable in toxic mold lawsuits.

If toxic mold is in your home, investigators may look for signs that contractors didn’t install proper ventilation equipment, that architects didn’t design for proper ventilation, and even that contractors or subcontractors may have brought it in on building materials. Any one of these parties, or a combination, may be responsible.

Building inspectors can be liable for failure to note or disclose the presence of it, as can previous owners of the home.

If you rent, your landlord may be liable if the presence of mold was known and not disclosed to you or remedied.

Lawsuits can also be brought against public places where toxic mold occurred and affected you, including hospitals, malls, schools, or apartment buildings. In these instances, as in a home, contractors, architects, building material suppliers, landlords, and inspectors may all be potentially responsible.

Experienced Toxic Mold Attorneys

Cases involving toxic mold can be complicated and require thorough investigation to resolve issues of responsibility and liability. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries due to toxic mold, contact us today at 1-888-480-1123 for a free case review.

Additional Resources:

1. Caroline Shannon-Karasik. HGTV. Toxic mold sickness and poisoning. https://www.hgtv.com/remodel/interior-remodel/mold-exposure-symptoms.
2. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts about Stachybotrys chartarum and Other Molds. https://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm.