Toxic Mold

Rhode Island Attorney Helping Victims Exposed to Hazardous Substances

Some people who experience ongoing respiratory symptoms may spend weeks or even months trying to identify the source of their illness, before ultimately determining that their sickness is caused by toxic mold. Exposure to toxic mold can cause significant and permanent harm, and people with toxic mold syndrome can incur considerable medical bills. In many cases, exposure to toxic mold could have been avoided, and more than one party may be liable for a person’s contact with toxic mold and subsequent symptoms. If you are suffering from toxic mold syndrome, Rhode Island toxic mold lawyer David Tapalian has the knowledge and experience needed to help you develop a compelling case in favor of your recovery of compensation.

Symptoms of Toxic Mold Syndrome

Mold generally grows in damp or wet environments in buildings. While most mold is harmless, some mold can cause severe illnesses that can be difficult to treat. Toxic mold is the term used for mold that produces mycotoxins, which are spores that are poisonous to humans. Mycotoxins can be released into the air, and if a person inhales them, they can cause toxic mold syndrome. Mycotoxins also can be absorbed through the skin or the digestive tract. Toxic mold syndrome can produce a variety of symptoms, including respiratory distress, wheezing, fever, asthma, shortness of breath, and skin irritation. In some cases, exposure to toxic mold can cause confusion, mood changes, anxiety, and brain toxicity. Toxic mold syndrome is usually diagnosed via a blood test.

Seeking Compensation for Harm Caused by Toxic Mold

If you were diagnosed with toxic mold syndrome, you may be able to seek compensation from the party responsible for your exposure to toxic mold. Toxic mold lawsuits are often more complicated than many cases, since it can be difficult to identify who may be responsible for the victim’s harm. First, you must determine the source and cause of the toxic mold. Then, a toxic mold attorney in Rhode Island can help you assess whether any other party had a duty to prevent the mold from developing or to disclose its existence to you.

If the toxic mold is in your place of employment, you may be limited to pursuing workers’ compensation benefits, or you may be able to assert a claim against a third party that was tasked with preventing or remediating any mold. If the mold is in a home that you rent, you may be able to pursue a claim against your landlord for failing to treat or identify the mold. Similarly, if the mold is in a home that you own, the party from which you purchased the home may be liable for failing to disclose the presence of mold if they knew or should have known that the mold existed when you bought the home. In some cases, you may be able to pursue a claim against a contractor who negligently performed work in your house and created an environment in which the mold could thrive. A Rhode Island toxic mold attorney may be able to bring claims based on breach of contract, breach of warranty, or negligence theories.

Damages Recoverable in a Toxic Mold Lawsuit

Regardless of who is named as a defendant, in most toxic mold cases, you will need to retain an expert to establish that the mold to which you were exposed was the cause of your symptoms, and you were exposed to a sufficient amount of mold to cause the injuries that you sustained. You likely will also need an expert to opine on the extent of the harm caused by the toxic mold and the economic damages that you sustained due to your illness.

If your toxic mold lawsuit is successful, you may be awarded compensation for the cost of any medical treatment that you underwent or will need to undergo in the future. You also may be awarded damages for lost earnings if you could not work due to your illness, as well as damages for the pain and suffering that you endured because of your symptoms. If you are married, your spouse may be able to recover damages for the loss of your companionship and services.

Speak With an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone in your family suffered harm because of exposure to toxic mold, you should speak with an experienced toxic mold lawyer in Rhode Island to discuss your next steps. Attorney David Tapalian can help you gather the evidence needed to prove liability for your harm. Mr. Tapalian’s primary office is in Providence, and he is available by appointment at his office in Seekonk as well. You can reach Mr. Tapalian at 401-552-5000 or through the form online to schedule a free appointment.