Chula Vista is an old city, and some homes within the city limits are nearly as old as the country. While these historical buildings beautify the city, they are also sometimes dangerous enough to require residents to seek assistance from a Chula Vista environmental law lawyer from Thompson Injury Law.
If you live in the city and believe that you or a loved one was seriously harmed by a toxic substance, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact our law firm today to learn more about your options from an experienced environmental law attorney.
How Environmental Law Affects You
California law protects you from toxic substances at the places where you work, live, and patronage. This means that if someone owns a building, they must ensure it is safe for everyone inside. These regulations affect:
- Landlords
- City officials
- Business owners
- Employers
Anyone who owns or manages a building needs to regularly inspect the building for any environmental hazards, like mold infestations or vermin. If an inspection determines there is a problem, they are required to correct the problem and keep people out of the building while it is unsafe.
Some dangers can be controlled without being removed. But even if this is the case, the property owner is required to inform others of the risk and take appropriate safety measures to mitigate that risk.
When someone intentionally fails to inspect a building, correct a problem, or warn others, they are liable for any harm caused by that failure. In the case of environmental dangers, the damage caused could put someone in the hospital or the morgue.
If you have any reason to believe that the irresponsibility of an employer, a landlord, or a business owner has caused you harm, you should consult with an environmental law attorney as soon as possible. You could be facing a lifetime of medical bills, and a lawyer can help you get the money you need to pay them.
Residential Dangers
If you rent a home in Chula Vista, you need to be on the lookout for unscrupulous landlords. It is easy for a landlord to hide some danger from you until you are already stuck in a contract. Once that happens, you are living in an unsafe place and probably can’t afford to leave or find another place to live.
Mold
Before moving into a new place, look carefully for mold, especially in bathrooms, the kitchen, and the basement. Mold tends to grow in hot, damp areas. And once it gets a foothold, it is difficult and expensive to remove.
Mold will typically be black specks on the walls, ceiling, or floor. Some landlords will paint over mold to hide it. Unfortunately, this does not eliminate the mold and just makes it harder to clean.
If your home has mold, the spores will spread through the air and may cause respiratory issues. Long-term exposure can do permanent damage to your lungs or other organs.
Carbon Monoxide
This gas is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. That makes it almost impossible to detect without a carbon monoxide detector. Unfortunately, it is also quite deadly with just moderate exposure.
When you’re considering an apartment, request to look at all the carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they are functioning. Additionally, inspect the oven, HVAC unit, and boiler. If they are leaking, you may be able to hear gas escaping, even if you can’t smell it.
If you start to experience nausea, headaches, or dizziness once you are inside the home, leave immediately and consult a doctor. If it is carbon monoxide poisoning, also contact an environmental law lawyer as quickly as possible.
Vermin
Several types of vermin can infest a home. The most dangerous are rodents and insects. These carry diseases and usually aren’t scared of entering areas where people live.
To determine whether a potential home has a vermin infestation, inspect dark, out-of-the-way areas. You often won’t see the critters but will find signs that they are present. If you see any damage to wood or cloth, something may have been chewing on it. Also, droppings of any sort are a clear sign of vermin.
Unscrupulous landlords may be aware of vermin and decide to hide the signs. For example, they might remove mouse and insect traps before you visit. You should probably ask directly and get your future landlord to put something in writing that the building doesn’t have a vermin infestation.
Contact an Environmental Law Attorney in Chula Vista from Thompson Injury Law
Your health is one of the most important things in your life. And the place where you live shouldn’t be a danger to it. If you believe that you have been harmed by any environmental dangers, contact us right away to speak to an environmental law lawyer.
