Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
If you or a loved one has contracted Legionnaires’ disease due to an outbreak in New York City, please contact a New York City Legionnaires’ disease lawyer from The Lange Law Firm, PLLC today to discuss your case. You may be entitled to significant compensation for your damages in a Legionnaires’ Disease lawsuit.
Although Legionnaires’ Disease can be an incredibly serious illness with potentially fatal circumstances, it is entirely preventable with routine maintenance and regular cleaning of any large sources of water. And even though New York City is one of the first to implement legislation to minimize the chance of mass infection, Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks still occur throughout the city.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC is exceptionally qualified to represent clients in Legionnaires’ disease lawsuits.
The Health Department announced that the investigation of the Central Harlem Legionnaires’ disease community cluster has a confirmed source. There were 18 cases of Legionnaires’ disease associated with this cluster. All 18 people were hospitalized and 16 have been discharged. Fortunately, there have been no deaths linked to the outbreak.
The Health Department’s Public Health Laboratory analyzed sputum samples from patients and water samples from the cooling towers in the investigation area. The Lab’s analyses showed that the bacteria from one of the clinical specimens matched a cooling tower at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem.
New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms, cough, fever or difficulty breathing should contact a physician immediately. Due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, people seeking care should be tested for COVID-19 and evaluated for Legionnaires’ disease. People get Legionnaires’ disease by breathing in water vapor that contains bacteria.
“I’m grateful for the many Health Department staff who identified and responded to this cluster quickly,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “After an extensive investigation, we were able to identify one cooling tower that matched to a clinical specimen, and appropriate cleaning and disinfection measures at that tower and all other potential sources were conducted.”
If you are considering a Legionnaires’ Disease lawsuit, it is highly recommended to consult a lawyer before proceeding with your claim. What seems like a simple, straightforward lawsuit can quickly become complicated due to a number of circumstances. A New York City Legionnaires’ disease attorney can help you overcome each obstacle with years of experience and knowledge on the matter.
This is especially true in Legionnaires’ Disease cases, which usually involve clients filing suits against larger businesses and property managers. These businesses typically have intimidating corporate legal teams who are prepared to aggressively defend their client from any damage. Retaining a Legionnaires’ Disease lawyer helps even out the playing field, ensuring you have equally aggressive representation to help you through your case.
Additionally, lawyers with previous experience in Legionnaires’ Disease cases can help you determine the full value of your case so that you receive the full compensation you deserve. Even if you recover fully from Legionnaires’ Disease, the resulting medical expenses can be devastating. Unfortunately, plaintiffs will often receive a quick settlement from the liable party, with the hopes of resolving the issue before the claim has to go to court. However, this is often far lower than what you are entitled to – and what the other party is liable for. A Legionnaires’ disease attorney in New York understands how much your case is worth, so they decline lowball offers and instead opt for the maximum possible compensation for your needs.
At The Lange Law Firm, PLLC, we are dedicated to providing the representation you need to secure the compensation you rightfully deserve for your damages. We are here to lend you help and support during a difficult time, giving you peace of mind during what may be an incredibly stressful process.
The types of compensation you can recover vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case, but here are some common kinds that are often available:
Compensation for the costs of medical treatment, hospitalization, medications, diagnostic tests, rehabilitation, and any other medical expenses incurred as a result of Legionnaires’ disease.
If you cannot work due to the illness, you may be entitled to compensation for the wages or income you lost during your recovery. This can include both past and future lost earnings.
Legionnaires’ disease can cause significant physical pain, emotional distress, and a decreased quality of life. Compensation for pain and suffering aims to provide financial recovery for these non-economic damages.
In cases where a person dies as a result of Legionnaires’ disease, their family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and other damages caused by the loss of their loved one.
Punitive damages may be awarded in certain situations where the defendant’s (at-fault party’s) conduct is deemed particularly reckless, wanton, or willful. This compensation is intended to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future.
Additional compensation may be available for other related expenses, such as travel costs for medical treatments, home modifications to accommodate disabilities, and long-term care expenses.
If you have contracted Legionnaires’ disease and believe it may be due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another party, it is generally advisable to contact a New York City Legionnaires’ disease attorney as soon as possible. Here are some situations where you should consider immediately reaching out to an attorney:
Once you have received a diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease from a medical professional.
If your illness resulted in hospitalization, significant medical treatment, or long-term health complications, it is crucial to consult an attorney.
If multiple cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been identified in the same location or during the same period, such as a hotel, workplace, or public facility, it can indicate a larger issue.
A New York City Legionnaires’ disease lawyer can provide you with valuable guidance and help protect your legal rights. They can assess the specifics of your situation, gather evidence, help you navigate the legal process, and advocate on your behalf.
In New York, the statute of limitations for premises liability cases, which includes claims related to Legionnaires’ disease, is generally three years from the date of the incident. This timeframe applies to cases where an individual is injured or becomes ill due to a dangerous condition or negligence on someone else’s property. Once the statute of limitations has expired, a person generally loses their right to file a lawsuit and seek legal recourse.
Statutes of limitations are designed to ensure that legal claims are filed within a reasonable time frame, balancing the interests of both the potential claimant and the defendant. In addition, they help provide legal certainty and prevent the filing of claims long after the relevant events occurred when evidence may be lost, or witnesses no longer be available.
Legionnaires’ Disease is a severe form of pneumonia that is caused by inhaling water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria. Symptoms typically develop within 2 to 10 days of exposure and include:
Occasionally, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also develop – and if the infection is left untreated, it may spread to other vulnerable parts of the body, such as the heart.
Some people who are exposed to Legionella may suffer a milder form of Legionnaires’ Disease called Pontiac fever. This occurs when Legionella does not infect the lungs, and can involve fever, muscle aches, and chills for two to five days.
It is important to note that although Legionnaires’ Disease is entirely treatable with antibiotics, it is often contracted by those who are already immuno-compromised or have health issues. Therefore, hospitalization is almost always required to fully treat and monitor the patient to ensure they make a full recovery.
Legionnaires’ Disease is caused by the inhalation of Legionella bacteria – usually from water sources. Although Legionella is a common bacterium that is naturally found in rivers and other freshwater sources, many in New York City may contract it from man-made sources of water, such as:
Unfortunately, New York City is home to a large number of Legionnaire’s Disease outbreaks. According to the New York City Department of Health, there are as many as 450 case of Legionnaires’ Disease in the city every year – an incredibly large number for a disease that is considered extremely rare.
The largest outbreaks of Legionnaire’s Disease in the city’s history occurred in 2015, when four outbreaks occurred throughout the year:
In response to these horrible outbreaks, New York City enacted a law calling for stricter regulations on cooling towers – the main source of Legionnaires’ disease in the 2015 outbreaks. This includes required disinfection and cleaning mandates for all property owners with cooling towers – along with detailed documentation of all cooling towers in the city to ensure compliance of the regulations.
However, despite these stricter regulations, cases of Legionnaires’ Disease have actually been rising. Since 2015, there have been at least five known Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks in New York City involving clusters of five or more cases. This includes two outbreaks in 2018 in Washington Heights, Manhattan, where over 20 people in total were infected and one died.
Because Legionnaires’ Disease is a completely preventable infection through simple disinfection measures, any property owners or those tasked with maintaining cooling towers in properties must be held liable for any Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks. Experts theorize that, despite greater city oversight, outbreaks have continued throughout NYC because those who own and/or maintain cooling towers are failing to comply with these stringent regulations. This may count as gross negligence in the eyes of the law, and you may have grounds for significant compensation in these instances.
Additionally, others speculate that there may be other sources of infection other than cooling towers – and that these regulations are putting too much emphasis on cooling towers. Regardless of the source, those who have a duty to maintain these water sources may have failed to do so, leading to severe outbreaks in New York City – and therefore may be held liable for any resultant damages.
If you or a loved one has suffered from Legionnaires’ Disease in New York City due to the negligence of another party, please contact us today to discuss your case. Schedule a free consultation with us today and see how we can help you with your case.