New York City Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyers

Getting Legal Help for Cases Involving Prolonged Hospitalization and Death

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of severe pneumonia that is caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria. Exposure to Legionella bacteria usually occurs by breathing in small droplets of water that are contaminated. Common sources of contamination include cooling towers, faucets, and the water systems in large buildings. Symptoms of the illness are very similar to the flu and may involve coughing, fever, chills, and shortness of breath. Severe cases may require hospitalization and cause long-term complications or even death.

New York City has a long history of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks. These outbreaks represent a major public health concern. According to The New York Academy of Sciences, “The city sees cases every year, typically 200 to 700 diagnoses annually, according to the NYC Health Department’s 2019–2022 Surveillance Report.” These outbreaks tend to be highly preventable and involve some amount of negligence on the part of property owners or building managers. When a person becomes seriously ill or dies after contracting Legionnaires’ disease in New York City, all responsible parties can be held accountable through a civil claim. The New York City Legionnaires’ disease lawyers at GLK Law can help. We can investigate all potential sources of exposure and pursue compensation for affected victims. Don’t wait to take action if you’ve been impacted. You can reach out to our office anytime for a risk-free case evaluation at 800-529-9997.

Cases GLK Law Is Primarily Evaluating

Any person who has been harmed by Legionnaires’ disease may have legal recourse through a civil claim. But GLK Law remains primarily concerned with helping victims who have suffered some of the most serious medical outcomes. What follows are the criteria that will likely indicate you have a strong claim that can move forward. 

• Extended or Repeated Hospitalizations: Victims required an extended or repeated hospitalization. This may include situations where the victim had a lengthy recovery after discharge.
• Intensive Care Unit: Victims required admission to the intensive care unit with intubation and mechanical ventilation.
• Severe Complications: Victims may have experienced respiratory failure, acute kidney injuries, cardiac complications, sepsis, or other severe complications as a result of their diagnosis.
• Permanent Injuries: Victims may have sustained permanent damage to their lungs or other vital organs. They may require ongoing oxygen dependence. This may require substantial rehabilitation and a loss of a person’s independence.
• Deaths: Family members may have lost a loved one who died as a result of complications from their illness. 

Older adults and those with certain health conditions are particularly vulnerable to more severe outcomes. Even after a person clears the disease, they can easily sustain lasting damage. This is one of the reasons it is important to receive medical treatment as early as possible and all necessary follow-up care. Documenting all of the ways that you’ve been harmed from the very beginning of the illness is very important and can help strengthen the value of your claim.

How Legionnaires’ Disease Spreads

In general, the disease does not spread from person to person. Instead, it can begin to multiply inside of complex water systems. One of the most common sources is cooling towers inside of large commercial buildings. But showers, faucets, hot tubs, and other sources can also potentially spread Legionella bacteria. Once any of those cooling systems becomes contaminated, people get infected by breathing in small droplets of water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has explained that it is also possible to become contaminated by drinking any water that contains the bacteria.

What are the Health Implications of Legionnaires’ Disease?

Legionnaires’ disease is a very serious illness that can cause significant damage and even death in many circumstances. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Hospitalization is common. The case-fatality rate is approximately 10%. For healthcare-associated infections, the case-fatality rate averages 25%.” In 2025 alone, seven people were killed in New York City after developing Legionnaires’ disease. Here are just a few of the potential health implications of contracting Legionnaires’ disease. 

• Victims may develop a severe pneumonia that causes scarring and inflammation of their lungs.
• Victims may develop breathing difficulties and suffer from reduced oxygen levels.
• Victims may experience respiratory failure that requires them to undergo mechanical ventilation.
• Victims may need extensive hospitalization and sustained intensive care.
• Victims are at risk of worsening a preexisting heart, kidney, or immune system condition. 
• Victims may develop a reduced ability to work or even perform ordinary tasks.
• Victims are at a serious risk of dying in the most severe cases.

People who are over the age of 54 or have chronic health conditions are particularly at risk. This is one of the reasons that Legionnaires’ disease can be so deadly if an outbreak occurs at a nursing home or hospital. Survivors may need extensive rehabilitation and continued medical care even after they have cleared the initial illness. Given the enormous health consequences of contracting Legionnaires’ disease, it is always a good idea for victims to seek legal guidance.

Where Can NYC Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks Occur?

Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks can occur at any location where Legionella bacteria are allowed to grow in New York City. Complex water systems tend to be the most ideal source for the bacteria to grow. This is particularly true if those water systems are not properly maintained and kept at the right temperature. Preventing Legionella bacteria from growing can be accomplished by keeping cold water below 68°F and warm water above 140°F. What follows are some of the common sources where people could be exposed to Legionnaires’ disease in New York City.

• Apartment buildings and residential properties
• Hotels, motels, and areas that provide short-term lodging
• Hospitals, medical clinics, and nursing homes
• Government buildings, including schools, colleges, and universities
• Gyms and health centers
• Any type of industrial facility that makes use of water mist
• Correctional facilities and other institutions that make use of complex water systems

Cooling towers across New York City can be particularly dangerous because they typically release the mist that they produce into the surrounding air. This creates a secondary risk of contamination in addition to the inside of those buildings. One of the safety measures that is supposed to be in place is routine testing. The NYC Department of Health requires that commercial property owners test their cooling systems every 31 days to help prevent Legionella bacteria from growing. 

Liability for New York City Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks

Property owners in NYC have a legal obligation to adequately manage their water systems. They can be liable for allowing bacteria to grow and spread. Among other things, property owners must implement maintenance plans, test their water systems, and conduct routine maintenance to keep their system clean. They must also routinely disinfect any equipment and report elevated bacteria levels back to the health department. What follows are some potential grounds for a legal claim in the event of an NYC Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.

• A property owner may have failed to register their cooling tower with the necessary government agency.
• A property owner may have failed to follow a required maintenance program for their cooling tower.
• A property owner may have allowed their water to become warm and stagnant, creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
• A property owner may have delayed inspecting, cleaning, or disinfecting their water system.
• A property owner may have hired an unqualified contractor to maintain or clean their system.

Maintenance contractors could also bear some level of legal responsibility if they were the ones contracted to uphold safety standards. If an outbreak occurs at a New York City property, investigators will look at maintenance records and water management system practices. This can help them make a determination on whether or not sufficient measures were taken to prevent the outbreak. When sufficient measures are not taken to protect against Legionnaires’ disease or other airborne illnesses, this could form the basis of a liability claim.

What Evidence is Important for Prolonged Hospitalization and Fatal Legionnaires’ Disease Claims?

Achieving a successful result in a Legionnaires’ disease claim will often necessitate the collection of a number of pieces of evidence. In particular, the evidence should help connect the plaintiff’s injury to a specific building or cooling tower that was the source of the Legionella bacteria. It is important to consider that symptoms may not appear immediately after a person is exposed. These are some of the important pieces of evidence an attorney will want to look at when pursuing a civil claim. 

• Medical Records: All of the medical records and laboratory results related to a person’s treatment and diagnosis are important. These records can help us establish when symptoms began and also document the severity of a person’s illness.
• Health Department Reports: Any reports created by the New York City Department of Health or other health agency are also relevant. They can identify areas where there are clusters of illnesses. These records can also reveal whether or not any cooling tower tested positive for Legionella bacteria. 
• Building Maintenance Records: Property owners that have cooling towers are required to test those towers routinely and properly maintain them. All of the maintenance records related to that work should be reviewed.
• Expert Analysis: Medical, microbiological, and water management system experts can offer their analysis that links site exposure to a person’s illness. This can be critical in the event of a legal claim.

Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks can be highly complex events. The factors that contribute to any outbreak can take place days or even months beforehand. Typically, there is not a single record that proves that one party or another is responsible for a person’s illness. These types of claims are typically built by taking into consideration a wide array of expert testimony, environmental testing, and medical evidence. Unfortunately, property owners and maintenance providers will almost never accept responsibility for these incidents. This is why legal help can be so critical.

How GLK Law Can Help After Prolonged Hospitalization or Death 

GLK Law’s New York City Legionnaires’ disease attorneys can investigate all of the unique circumstances surrounding your illness and take measures to ensure that your rights are being protected. They can help identify the likely source of the exposure and determine whether or not a property owner or building contractor failed to take reasonable precautions to protect you. Here are just a few of the ways that our law firm can assist you if you’ve contracted Legionnaires’ disease in NYC.

• Our legal team can obtain cooling tower registration records, maintenance records, and inspection reports.
• Our legal team can request a review of health department findings that demonstrate regulatory violations at a particular site.
• Our legal team can subpoena critical information that demonstrates one or more parties acted negligently.
• Our legal team can handle all negotiations with insurance providers so that you can focus entirely on getting better.
• Our legal team can file a lawsuit on your behalf if property owners are not willing to offer a fair settlement.
• Our legal team works entirely on a contingency fee basis. We only get paid from the opposing party if we are able to successfully resolve your claim.

GLK Law is one of the oldest and most well-respected law firms in New York City. Our attorneys have decades of experience and recovered over $1 billion for our deserving clients. We are committed to providing our clients with the very best service possible that always takes their interests first. You can rest assured that we will do everything in our power to help get you the best outcome possible. When insurance providers are not willing to offer a fair settlement, our attorneys are prepared to take every case to trial. 

Getting Legal Help for Serious Injury and Death Cases Involving Legionnaires’ Disease in NYC

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed after contracting Legionnaires’ disease in New York City, you have the right to pursue damages through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Speaking with an attorney as early as possible can help ensure that all of the evidence related to your case is adequately preserved and protected. GLK Law understands how difficult it can be to recover and move forward after a prolonged hospitalization or death from Legionnaires’ disease. Contracting any disease can leave victims frightened and overwhelmed. This is particularly true when an illness results in lasting complications or even the death of a loved one. 

Our attorneys will do absolutely everything in their power to get you the justice and compensation you are entitled to under the law. There is no risk or obligation to having our legal team evaluate your case. We can take steps to hold all responsible parties fully accountable and let you know how much compensation you may be entitled to. Whether you just have questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help with your particular situation, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at 800-529-9997.