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Mold thrives in damp, enclosed places — meaning it can often grow in our homes without our knowledge.
Mold is particularly common in wet places like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. It can be caused by leaking pipes under the floors and walls or in the ceiling due to a leaking roof.
Some types of mold are harmless, while others are toxic. If you have toxic mold growing in your house or apartment, you’re at high risk of developing serious health conditions. If you’ve been harmed by the presence of toxic mold in your home, a lawyer can help hold a landlord or other party responsible for the impact on your finances.
What are toxic mold injuries?
Molds produce chemicals when they grow. Some of these chemicals are harmful to human health.
“Toxic mold” is a general term used to describe any mold that’s been linked to harmful effects on health when people breathe in these chemicals or come into physical contact with them; “Toxic mold injury” refers to the ensuing illnesses and other health challenges caused by the presence of toxic mold.
Toxic mold can hurt anyone, but it most severely affects individuals with weakened immune systems. People at the highest risk of toxic mold injury include:
- Infants
- Children
- The elderly
- Individuals with compromised immune systems
- Individuals dealing with other chronic illnesses like cancer
Toxic mold tends to have the greatest impact on health when a person is exposed to it over a long period. This is why toxic mold in a home or apartment carries the greatest risk of impacting health.
The Most Common Toxic Mold Injuries
Toxic mold can affect individuals very differently. Some people may live around toxic mold and not experience any adverse health reactions, while others can develop serious and even fatal health complications.
Toxic mold exposure is known for causing issues with the respiratory system. However, some people may experience more serious injuries related to chronic toxic mold exposure, including:
- Weakened immune system
- Severe asthma
- Liver damage
- Brain damage
- Pulmonary hemorrhaging
Toxic mold exposure can have a chain reaction on health — an immune system weakened by toxic mold exposure opens the door to a wide range of additional illnesses and complications.
When toxic mold exposure has severe consequences, healing from illness and other complications can be difficult or even impossible. In the worst-case scenario, some of the more troubling outcomes mentioned previously can even result in death.
Signs of Toxic Mold Injury
A toxic mold injury usually first impacts the respiratory system. Mold exposure is known to mimic the symptoms of a cold, flu, or allergies.
Some of the most common signs of toxic mold exposure include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Breathing difficulties
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Initially, it can be difficult to tell toxic mold injuries from other illnesses. However, the flu or seasonal allergies tend to have a marked onset and endpoint and should only last a short time. When symptoms are caused by toxic mold, they’re far more likely to linger and worsen as long as the mold is still present.
A Lawyer Can Help with Compensation for Toxic Mold
If you believe your health has been compromised by prolonged exposure to toxic mold, a personal injury lawyer can help investigate and build a case for compensation.
A skilled lawyer can help you recover compensation for the money lost on medical bills and missed work when toxic mold injuries lead to serious and expensive health complications.
To learn more about getting legal support for a toxic mold injury, call Thompson Injury Law to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Diego, CA.
