Legionnaires' disease is a very serious type of pneumonia that causes inflammation in the lungs. The disease is caused by a type of bacteria known as legionella. Legionella is found in soil and water, although it is usually the latter that causes people to become sick. In many instances, people contract Legionnaires' disease due to someone else's negligence, or carelessness. Property owners must ensure the water on a property is clean and safe for people to consume. Parties responsible for designing, maintaining, and manufacturing water systems must also ensure they perform their jobs properly so no one becomes harmed. If you have become sick while on someone else's property, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Our Santa Clarita Legionnaires' disease lawyer can determine who is liable for your losses, and hold them accountable for paying the maximum amount you deserve.
Determining Liability for Legionnaires' DiseaseNot all cases of Legionnaires' disease give rise to a lawsuit. To file a claim for your losses associated with the sickness, you must show that another person was negligent. You must also prove that their negligence resulted in harm. A Legionnaires' disease lawyer in Santa Clarita can help with this.
In most cases of Legionnaires' disease that involve negligence, it is property owners who are liable. Property owners have a legal duty to make sure their premises are safe for anyone who enters. This duty includes making sure the water source on the property is safe and does not contain legionella bacteria. To ensure that the water source is safe, property owners must use an appropriate disinfectant to ensure the pH levels in the water can kill legionella and other types of bacteria.
Property owners are not the only ones to blame in many cases of Legionnaires' disease. Any entity that is responsible for manufacturing, designing, engineering, inspecting, or maintaining water systems can also be held liable if they acted negligently and someone became sick as a result.
Important Evidence in Legionnaires' Disease LawsuitsWhen filing a lawsuit after becoming sick with Legionnaires' disease, you will have to collect important evidence. One of the most important pieces of evidence is your medical records which will show that you have been exposed to legionella and that you became sick as a result.
Records pertaining to the water system that contained the bacteria, such as inspection reports and test results, are also important pieces of evidence. This type of documentation is not as easy to gather as your own medical records, though. A Santa Clarita Legionnaires' disease attorney can subpoena these records from the appropriate companies to show that their water source is unsafe.
Expert and eyewitness testimony, as well as photographs that show how sick a person became, are all additional pieces of evidence that can prove your case. Anyone who becomes sick after being on another person's property should also keep a journal of their symptoms, and how they have impacted their daily life. All of this evidence is important so you can claim the full damages to which you are entitled.
Call Our Legionnaires' Disease Attorney in Santa Clarita for Sound Legal AdviceIf you or a loved one has suffered harm due to another person's carelessness, you deserve compensation for your losses. At Brod Law Firm, our Santa Clarita Legionnaires' disease lawyer will advise you of your legal rights and make sure they are always protected. Call us now at (800) 427-7020 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.