Many residents exposed to the heavy smoke and ash of the Eaton Fire later developed respiratory or pulmonary complications due to the long-term health effects of wildfire exposure.
Key takeaways:
- Some victims didn’t experience symptoms until weeks or months later, leading to delayed diagnoses.
- Others lost loved ones to pulmonary embolisms, COPD flare-ups, or lung failure following the fire.
- Those who experienced pulmonary or respiratory complications due to the Eaton Fire may be eligible to file a lawsuit seeking financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain, suffering and more.
- Families who lost loved ones to respiratory or pulmonary complications caused by the Eaton Fire may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking financial compensation for funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, lost income, loss of love and companionship and more.
- Eaton Fire victims can recover more compensation by filing a lawsuit than they can by participating in the direct compensation program run by Southern California Edison (SCE).
- The lawyers at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you file a lawsuit against SCE, who is responsible for the Eaton Fire.
Call our Eaton Fire lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one developed pulmonary or respiratory complications, which might be delayed, due to the Eaton Fire.
How Wildfire Smoke Can Cause Delayed Pulmonary Illness
Wildfire smoke is capable of harming the lungs and heart even after fires have ended, according to a study reported on by The Harvard Gazette. The researchers found that:
- Exposure to wildfire smoke’s fine particulate matter can lead to health complications as long as three months later.
- Wildfire smoke exposure can happen even after fires have ended.
- Even brief exposures from small fires which last a few days can cause “long-lasting health effects.”
- Fine particulate matter can reduce air quality for extended periods of time, keeping air toxic even after wildfires have ended.
The study found that exposure to fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke is associated with numerous potential health risks, including:
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Ischemic heart disease
- Hypertension
- Arrhythmia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
The researchers found that hypertension was the condition linked with long-term exposure to fine particles that was the most likely to lead to hospitalization.
In addition, long-term wildfire smoke exposure is associated with a higher risk of death, according to a study reported on by the Yale School of Public Health. The researchers found that:
- Exposure to fine particulate matter in smoke is associated with about 11,415 non-accidental deaths each year in the contiguous United States, constituting a major public health issue.
- About 72.5 percent of the deaths were due to cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, mental disorders, and digestive diseases.
- The exposure is associated with 4,512 deaths each year due to cardiovascular disease.
- Fine particulate matter can get deposited in the kidneys, leading to an increased risk of kidney diseases.
- The exposure is associated with 1,142 endocrine disease deaths per year and 320 chronic kidney disease deaths per year.
- Exposure to fine particulate matter has been associated with insulin resistance, and this might lead to endocrine diseases like diabetes.
- Fine particles can penetrate respiratory tracts and bloodstreams, triggering inflammation and oxidative stress, impairing vascular and lung function.
- Inflammation and oxidative stress can affect mental health, leading to psychological diseases as well as aggravations of physical health conditions that may worsen mental health.
- Fine particulate matter can enter gastrointestinal tracts, leading to intestinal microecology imbalances.
In addition, according to a review published in The Journal of Climate Change and Health entitled “Long-term health effects of wildfire exposure: A scoping review”:
- Wildfire exposure is correlated with numerous health effects, including cancer, respiratory illnesses and increased mortality.
- Those occupationally exposed to smoke from wildfires may experience more respiratory complications, including lung cancer.
- Exposure to chemicals and fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke is correlated with a higher risk of developing all types of cancer.
- Multiple studies correlated wildfire smoke exposure with reduced lung function.
What a Delayed Pulmonary Diagnosis Means for Eaton Fire Survivors
Many victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles County were only diagnosed with health issues months after the fire, once chronic symptoms appeared.
It is important for Eaton Fire survivors with delayed diagnoses to keep in mind that:
- Delayed diagnoses do not disqualify victims from filing claims when medical records confirm that smoke exposure caused medical conditions.
- Your condition may have been caused by the Eaton Fire even if it was diagnosed well after the fire. Smoke can cause diseases well after a fire has ended. If you can still smell smoke, you may still be inhaling dangerous materials or toxic materials such as fine particulate matter or heavy metals. Health experts recommend that those cleaning up after the fire wear particle-filtering masks because fine particulate matter can persist long after the fire.
- Claims may include compensation for medical costs, long-term oxygen therapy, lost income, reduced quality of life, pain, suffering, emotional distress and wrongful death.
- Experienced wildfire lawyers can review your medical records, prove to SCE that the condition you received a delayed diagnosis of was caused by the Eaton Fire, and recover compensation for all damages related to your condition.
Who Qualifies to File an Eaton Fire Lung Injury Lawsuit?
You may qualify to file a lawsuit seeking financial compensation from SCE if:
- You were diagnosed with chronic or acute pulmonary or respiratory disease following the Eaton Fire
- You are a family member of a loved one who died from pulmonary or respiratory complications caused by the Eaton Fire
- You are a property owner or resident who suffered prolonged smoke exposure due to the Eaton Fire which led to a respiratory or pulmonary complication
Lung Conditions Diagnosed After the Eaton Fire
Exposure to wildfire smoke can cause immediate symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, a runny nose, chest tightness, eye irritation, wheezing, coughing or fatigue.
However, wildfire victims may also receive delayed diagnoses of several diseases after being exposed to wildfire smoke, including:
- COPD
- Asthma
- Reactive airway disease
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Pulmonary scarring
- Bronchitis
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs)
- Secondary heart complications triggered by poor oxygenation
- Arrhythmia
- Hypertension
- Ischemic heart disease
Some victims may have been initially misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, delaying treatment and worsening outcomes.
In addition, valley fever is a fungal infection which can spread after wildfires, particularly to those with compromised immune systems.
What Is My Eaton Fire Lung Injury Claim Worth?
There is no average amount for claims regarding pulmonary complications caused by the Eaton Fire.
The value of your Eaton Fire claim will depend on the specific damages you incurred.
Damages which you can recover compensation for in an Eaton Fire pulmonary complication claim include:
- Medical bills: Compensation for past and future medical expenses related to your complications, including compensation for hospital stays, medications, surgeries, doctor visits, medical treatments and more.
- Lost income: Compensation for wages you’re unable to earn because you’re too sick to work or need to take time off from work to attend medical appointments.
- Reduced earning capacity: Compensation for loss or reduction of earning capacity caused by a disability.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain, mental suffering and emotional distress related to your pulmonary complications.
- Long-term care or rehabilitation costs: Fair compensation for any rehabilitation or long-term care costs necessitated by your pulmonary complications.
- Funeral and burial costs: Compensation for burial and funeral costs in wrongful death cases.
When a Pulmonary Condition Leads to Death After A Wildfire
Unfortunately, some families have lost loved ones due to respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism or lung-related complications months after exposure to the Eaton Fire.
Things that can contribute to fatal outcomes include:
- Post-fire stress
- Chemical inhalation
- Delayed medical intervention
If you have lost a loved one due to a pulmonary condition caused by the Eaton Fire:
- You may qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit against SCE.
- Experienced wrongful death attorneys can gather evidence, prove that your loved one died because of a condition caused by the Eaton Fire, and recover full wrongful death compensation from SCE.
- You may qualify for compensation for funeral and burial costs, medical bills and pain and suffering of the decedent’s prior to passing, and the loss of your loved one’s income, love, companionship, household services and spousal benefits.
Call our experienced wrongful death lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you lost a loved one due to a pulmonary condition caused by the Eaton Fire.
Statute of Limitations for Eaton Fire Lung Injury Claims
There is a time limit known as a statute of limitations for filing Eaton Fire respiratory injury claims:
- Most wildfire injury and wrongful death claims in California must be filed within two years of the injury or death.
- For delayed pulmonary diagnoses, however, the clock starts when the condition is discovered or linked to Eaton Fire smoke exposure, whichever comes later.
- Filing as soon as possible helps to strengthen your case, ensure evidence is preserved, and make sure you meet the filing deadline.
For answers to other common questions and legal options for survivors, visit our Eaton Fire survivor FAQ page.
How Our Eaton Fire Lawyers Can Help
The Eaton Fire attorneys at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can help you by:
- Investigating your claim: We will investigate your claim by gathering evidence such as medical documentation, proof of exposure, expense and loss documentation, air quality data and witness information in order to connect your pulmonary diagnosis to the fire.
- Hiring experts: We can hire Certified Industrial Hygienists to do professional testing for contaminants, including testing air filters, HVAC systems and indoor air systems, to prove that harmful particles are present. We can engage environmental specialists who perform lab analyses to identify combustion particles, linking them to the Eaton Fire.
- Meeting filing deadlines: We can handle all of the complicated paperwork for you, ensuring you meet all filing deadlines and allowing you to simply focus on recovering from your complications and the fire.
- Documenting financial losses: We can document all of your financial losses for you, including your non-economic losses like emotional distress, in order to fully maximize your compensation from SCE and make you whole again.
- Negotiating with SCE: We have over 35 years of experience negotiating settlements with utilities and insurers, and will aggressively negotiate the largest possible settlement for you, not settling for less.
- Representing you in court: We are fully prepared to represent you in court if a settlement cannot be reached with SCE, as we have over 35 years of trial experience.
- Handling your case on a contingency fee basis: You will never owe us a single penny out of your own pocket and we won’t charge you anything until we win your case.
Contact our Eaton Fire Pulmonary Injury Attorneys Today
Call our California wildfire lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one developed respiratory complications due to the Eaton Fire.
Reasons to call us today for a FREE consultation:
- Our legal teams have successfully resolved thousands of California wildfire claims.
- We have been helping injury and wrongful death victims for since 1990.
- We do not charge a legal fee unless or until we win your case.
- We are available 24/7 and provide reliable communication.
