Mold Is a Dangerous Fungus That Can Grow Easily In Your Home or Apartment

Many homeowners are discovering the dangers of mold growing in their homes. Likewise, apartment dwellers are finding mold growing in the ceiling, floors, around windows and in darkened areas of their apartments.

In particular, mold is defined as a tiny microorganism which digests organic matter to grow, and digests organic materials by releasing spores into the air. Molds are characterized as being a type of fungus, and there are actually over 100,000 species of mold seen in the natural world. Mold is found both inside and outside of the home (such as in nature). In the case of mold spores, the mold is able to grow easily in dark and damp environments, where there is damage from water to the wall structures, floor boards or ceiling areas of the home.

Why Is Mold So Dangerous to Humans?

Toxic mold is a dangerous substance. It can grow in damp areas and generally spreads throughout your entire property in a relatively short period of time. The mold can cause serious health complications. These issues are generally worsened when exposure is made to young children. Additionally, it often takes years before the health complications caused by mold exposure materialize. This makes toxic mold litigation difficult and time consuming.  If your house or apartment is infested with toxic mold contact our Los Angeles Toxic Mold Litigation Attorneys at Downtown LA Law Firm.  All initial consultations with a toxic mold attorney regarding your claim if free of charge. (855) 385-2529

Toxic Mold and Property Values: Compensation for reduction in your homes price due to presence of toxic mold.

Toxic mold presence can have a devastating effect on the property value of the home. As the seller of the home you are required to disclose whether there was ever a presence of toxic mold found on the property. It is the duty of the seller to make such disclosures to any potential buyer.

Generally, the buyer of any transaction where mold was present will want either full remediation documentation or will decline to execute the purchase. The reason being that even with remediation mold can re-occur and have serious health complications. If you purchased a home without knowledge of mold issues view our non-disclosure page to determine your remedies.

Health Effects of Toxic Mold – Personal Injury Claims Resulting from hazardous mold infestation

The presence of toxic mold spores can have adverse health consequences. Mold spores can travel from one room to the other in a home, and are easily transported in the home environment because they are airborne. Mold is characterized by a musty or dank smell, and is shown as black or white flecks that may appear in a damp basement wall or in the bathroom ceiling near the showers or a water source.

Mold spores can also easily attach to the respiratory system and cause future health complications. High presence of mold spores can lead to a number of different issues. These issues can include:

• Dizziness
• Lack of energy
• Constant headaches
• Asthma
• Respiratory problems
• Coughing
• Runny eyes
• Rashes
• Difficulty breathing
• Hemorrhaging and other serious complications

If your property contains mold or has any type of mold infestation it is necessary to have a full remediation done on the property. For a list of remediation specialist take a look at our toxic mold resources page.

You should also have samples tested for determining what type of mold is present. Mold is prevalent, and very commonly found in homes. There is a need to clean up the mold, but no need to panic if mold is found. Generally, there are only a few different strains of mold that are proven to be toxic or dangerous. The only problem is that, there has never been a scientific determination as to how much mold is “too much.” For that reason, it is critical to get mold taken out of the home or apartment as soon as possible. Having a specialist conduct spore samples to determine the toxicity of the mold and its various strains, is important to helping you establish your case.

It is important to wear proper protection or completely remove yourself and family from areas where mold has been detected. It is the duty of your landlord to provide an alternate residence. If your landlord fails to do so, you should take measures to move out and keep track of any incurred costs. These costs will include going to and from your work, job, school for children, grocery store, other errands and other places that you must travel. You will want to keep track of your time traveled, gas and mileage for the record. If you have to pay for a hotel room while the mold is being cleared up, you need to keep track of these expenses for the room. If you have to also pay for laundry services, buying cookery to make meals, eating meals out if no kitchenette or refrigerator is provided, and any other incidentals, make a note of those ancillary expenses too for the record. You should be able to be reimbursed for these expenses, while you were displaced from your home, during the mold clean up process by the professionals.

Mold may have always been in the home, you just didn’t see it. Whenever there is water damage in a home, there may also be the presence of mold. If there are water leaks, leaky roofs or leaks coming from regular drips in plumbing, there may be water that accumulates to become a water resource for mold to develop in the home. For instance, the area around windows may be a source of frequent condensation, and mold can develop in these crevices, especially if there is also continual water damage in this location of the home. Mold can grow in dark areas, and also where you are NOT looking for it, such as:

• Behind the washing machine
• Beside the dryer
• Under or behind the refrigerator
• Under the kitchen cabinets
• Inside of the bathroom cabinets
• Under the beds
• In the back of the closets
• In the basement or attics
• In the back of the garage
• Under the house
• Under the floorboards
• Behind the baseboards
• Under the windows
• Behind the curtains
• Behind the oven or stove

You would expect mold to grow in the bathroom, near the kitchen or bathroom sinks or shower areas or near the doors going in and out of the home. Generally speaking, if there are areas of the home that are not well ventilated but that receive frequent water damage, these areas are highly likely to develop mold and mold spores.

What Does Mold Smell Like in a Home or Apartment?

Mold can be seen as it is growing in a home or apartment. Additionally, mold has a distinct musty or “close” odor when it is growing. This unpleasant smell will be a telltale sign that there may be mold growing in the home. Likewise, mold can grow undetected in walls, behind wallpaper, in the floor boards, ceiling areas or under carpets in a home with untreated water damage. Mold will become a problem if you see black or white speckles along the basement wall or in the bathroom ceiling or shower grout areas.

Landlords can be liable in a number of ways. They are required to keep the property in a habitable condition. When they fail to do so and either there tenants or others on the property are hurt, they are subject to liability. With regards to mold, a landlord will be liable if they had notice. Notice is considered knowledge of whether mold existed on the property or not.

Proving notice can be challenging. It is important to keep documented records of any prior mold issues, repairs and other information you may find helpful. Notice of mold can be inferred or proven when there are sufficient facts.

If it is shown that the landlord was actually on notice, then liability will extend to them. The landlord will be liable for the moving cost, pain and suffering and potential health complications caused by the exposure to the toxic mold.

What to Do if You suspect your home is infested with dangerous mold

If you have found mold on your property take the following steps;

(1) Contact your landlord. Explain to them the situation and offer them an opportunity to remediate the mold. If you landlord fails to take appropriate measures, you must either move out of the property or employ your own remediation specialist. Often times this can be expensive so it is advised that you attempt to work something out with your landlord;

(2) Request for a sample of the mold to be tested to determine what type of mold is present. Not all molds are toxic. This sample will aid you in determining whether the mold is in fact toxic and can be used to further your case.

(3) Contact an attorney. Downtown LA Law’s toxic mold attorney in Los Angeles & Orange County can help with your case. Our mold attorney Los Angeles can aid you in determining and parsing through the facts of your case. All of our evaluations are done without charge and almost all mold cases are taken on a contingency basis. So you don’t pay unless we are successful.

The monetary compensation for an injury is based on several factors that will be determined through thorough analysis of your injuries future medical needs and property damage analysis by expert witnesses.

Your doctors including neurologists, toxicologist and otolaryngologists, can probably give you a good indication of the severity of your injuries and whether long term or permanent damage has taken place.  Compensation is often base on your

• Medical Expenses: Medical expenses include all medical bills and costs
• Future Medical Expenses: Unfortunately, the effects of a car accident can often be felt for months, years, or even a lifetime after the injury occurred.
• Lost Wages: After an accident, you are entitled to any income you lost.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: In addition to current lost wages, victims of brain injuries are eligible to receive compensation for future lost wages.
• Pain and Suffering:  Including Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Anxiety and depression resulting from your brain injury
• Permanence of your injury:  Often time brain injuries are irreversible leading to permanent lifelong disabilities which may require rehabilitation and long term care.

Selecting the Right Legal Representation:

It is important for your attorney understands your toxic mold injury and employs the proper experts to determine the extent of your injuries and the compensation you are owed.

Downtown LA Law Group:  We are a full service plaintiff’s law firm ca. We are compassionate litigators fighting for the rights of our clients.  Contact us today for a free case evaluation or a second opinion.

Remember: It is crucial to act quickly before any limitations can lower or extinguish your rightful claim. Call us for a free consultation with one of our attorneys regarding your claim: (855) 385-252