NYC Legionnaires’ Disease Attorney

New York City Legionnaires Disease Attorney

Legionnaires’ Disease Attorney in NYC

Proper maintenance of water systems, including careful cleaning, regular inspections, and applications of appropriate antibacterial agents generally prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria. Therefore, cases of Legionnaires’ disease are most often traceable to negligent property owners. For this reason, victims of Legionnaires’ disease are frequently able to file premises liability lawsuits against the owner of the contaminated building that made them ill. If you have contracted Legionnaires’ disease, as soon as you are under proper medical care you should contact the experienced Legionnaires’ disease attorneys at Katter Law. Our accomplished attorneys have the comprehensive legal knowledge and excellent negotiation and litigation skills.

When you consult with our firm, you give yourself the very best chance of winning the substantial compensation you deserve for your physical pain, emotional anguish, and lost income. If you have tragically lost someone you love to Legionnaires’ disease, our capable Legionnaires’ disease attorneys will fight for your right to obtain wrongful death damages. Though money can never replace a loved one, at least we can restore your sense of justice and protect other innocent people from going through the same trauma. Contact Katter Law today to learn how we can help.

What is Legionnaires’ Disease?

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The illness is very serious and can be deadly. It is distinguished from many other types of pneumonia because of the way it is transmitted. Unlike more common varieties of pneumonia that are spread through person to person contact or caused by foreign matter (like food particles) getting lodged in the lungs, the bacteria that causes Legionella grows in warm water. The disease can, therefore, be found in hot tubs, hot water tanks, and cooling towers used to cool water for large air-conditioning systems. In cooling towers, the water vapor produced and released into the air can carry Legionella bacteria into the body of anyone who inhales the mist. Cooling towers are, therefore, a common source of Legionella bacteria.

Taking Action Promptly Can Make All the Difference

You must reach out to our law practice as quickly as possible so that we can begin investigating the particular circumstances of your case. For one thing, New York State has a 3-year statute of limitations for premises liability cases. For another, untangling your case to prove the connection between your illness and the environment you were living, working, learning or vacationing in may take our dedicated team some time. We also want to ensure that we have our inspectors check the source of your infection before the defendants have time to clean up the site and destroy evidence. We also have to examine all pertinent medical data. If necessary, Katter Law has the resources to bring in plumbing, engineering, or medical experts to attest to the specifics of your case.

History of Legionnaires’ Disease

Legionnaires’ disease was named after an outbreak of a potentially lethal form of pneumonia during an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976. That same year, in a collaborative effort with other government agencies, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) traced the new bacteria to the air conditioning system in the hotel that housed the convention. Unfortunately, within a week after the convention ended 200 people had been hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease and 34 had died. There have since been other outbreaks of the illness, notably in 2015 in the South Bronx.

Symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease

It is sometimes difficult to diagnose Legionnaires’ disease because of the similarity of its symptoms to other types of pneumonia. Often, the fact that there is a cluster of cases among dwellers in the same apartment building, guests in the same hotel, or travelers on the same cruise ship, is a significant clue. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, which typically show up 2 to 10 days after exposure, include:

  • Severe cough which may produce mucus or blood
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Fever (possibly 104 degrees F or higher)
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches

In the most serious cases, patients may become confused or disoriented and the disease may affect the heart or other parts of the body.

Risk Factors for Developing Legionnaires’ Disease

As with most illnesses, some people are more likely to be infected and/or to develop more severe cases of the disease. Those at elevated risk for Legionnaires’ disease include:

  • Those 50 years or older
  • Current or former smokers
  • Those with chronic lung disease (COPD, emphysema, asthma)
  • Those with immune systems weakened by cancer, chemotherapy, transplant surgery
  • Those with other systemic conditions, such as diabetes, kidney, heart, or liver disease

Treatment of Legionnaires’ Disease

While there is, at present, no vaccine against Legionnaires’ disease, the illness can be successfully treated with antibiotics. People who are otherwise in good health usually recover with hospital care, but approximately 1 in 10 will die from the infection.

Contact Katter Law

If you have contracted Legionnaires’ disease, or have lost a loved one to this horrible illness, you are well aware of how painful and frightening it can be. Beyond the physical malady and the emotional turmoil the disease has brought to you and your family, there are bound to be financial hardships as well. Medical and hospital co-pays add up very quickly, especially when you are without income for a prolonged period. It is particularly awful to know that all of this trauma, which may leave you with residual damage, or without a beloved relative, could have been avoided if those responsible had taken the necessary precautions. Katter Law is completely on your side. We will fight ferociously to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your economic losses and your physical and emotional pain. Also, if we find evidence that the defendant ignored warnings about the dangers of Legionnaires’ disease, we may be able to get you punitive damages as well. We concentrate on cases surrounding Legionnaires’ disease and are determined to win your case. Contact our firm today.

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