Houston Toxic Mold Lawyer

Addressing Remediation and Health Problems for Property Owners

Houston’s humid climate encourages mold growth, but that does not mean that every property owner should expect it. Poor construction and inadequate techniques or building materials can encourage the growth of toxic mold.

Mold exposure can lead to slow, expensive remediation and subject building residents to long-term health issues. Property owners should consult a Houston toxic mold lawyer about their mold exposure concerns as soon as they arise.

What Is Toxic Mold and What Does It Do?

When people inhale toxic mold spores, they can develop:

• Mold allergies, with constant sneezing, coughing, and other allergic symptoms, as well as the possible development of secondary ailments
• New cases of asthma or increased symptoms for those who have it, such as severe coughing fits and potentially fatal airway constriction
• Worsening of their COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or other preexisting respiratory issues, which could create life-threatening breathing difficulties
• Fatigue and other problems with mental health and cognitive function (although some doctors debate this)

Toxic mold exposure is most often blamed on “black mold,” with its characteristic black-green splotches and musty smell, usually the species Stachybotrys chartarum. However, many different molds can cause adverse health effects.

How Does a Building Develop a Mold Problem?

Builders’ errors and neglect of maintenance encourage toxic mold growth by creating problems like:

• Poor ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms
• Inadequate waterproofing in windows, walls, and other key areas
• Rising damp: when the walls and floors absorb moisture from the earth
• Mold development in building materials during storage before construction
• Buildup of condensation and/or leakage in the walls from HVAC systems and pipes

Poor construction and careless building-site maintenance can allow mold to flourish in a building. To thrive indoors, mold needs nourishment and a warm, damp place with still air. Wood products, drywall, and other plant-based building materials can host toxic mold growth because dangerous molds grow well on cellulose, the natural structure of wood.

What Are the Costs of Toxic Mold Damage?

In toxic mold cases, property owners can sustain two kinds of losses: property damage and medical expenses.

Property Damage Expenses

Under Texas law, only licensed professionals may perform mold remediation work. A small area could cost a few hundred dollars, but it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to treat a whole property for mold. And no mold treatment can be effective without addressing the underlying conditions that feed the mold growth. Fixing the property can require:

• HVAC system repairs
• Water damage remediation
• Replacement and/or restoration of moldy walls and fixtures
• Repairs for faulty construction that allowed mold to develop

Aside from the thousands required for these renovations, anyone living or working there will need to pay for an alternate space.

Expenses Due to Mold Injuries

Anyone affected by toxic mold could make a claim for:

• Medical examinations, imaging, and testing
• Prescription drugs and home health equipment
• Lost wages or income during illness (or due to the illness of a child)
• Emergency treatment for asthma attacks or other urgent breathing problems

If a resident’s respiratory crisis ends in death, their family may have a further claim for the costs of their funeral and burial.

What Are a Property Owner’s Options?

Property owners may struggle with insurance coverage for mold damage. Mold coverage, if the insurer offers it at all, often does not meet the actual costs of the property damage. A toxic mold attorney can protect their clients and push back against unfair insurance denials for the coverage they sold.

Your attorney can also present your claim to any contractors, technicians, or other companies who could be held responsible. If they do not offer compensation for the damage they caused, you may have the option to take them to court.

In some cases, tenants may make a claim for toxic mold exposure against a property owner. An experienced toxic mold lawyer can review the case and advise a property owner about whether they are really responsible for a tenant’s claims, and by how much.

Your Houston Toxic Mold Attorney

Addressing toxic mold problems is not easy for anyone. But Attorney LaToya Jarrett works closely with her clients in the real estate sector. She knows how to hold insurers and contractors to account for claims they have an obligation to pay. Call Jarrett Law Firm, PLLC today at 346-683-2240 to make your first appointment.