Legionnaires’ Disease in Hospitals: Can You Sue a Hospital for Legionnaires’ Disease in New York?
Holding Hospitals Accountable for Preventable Legionnaires’ Disease
Hospitals are places where patients expect to receive treatment that improves their health, not contract a life-threatening infection. Unfortunately, when hospital water systems are not properly maintained, Legionella bacteria can grow and spread, exposing already vulnerable patients to Legionnaires’ disease. Hospital-acquired Legionnaires’ disease is one of the most serious healthcare-associated infections because many hospitalized patients are elderly, recovering from surgery, immunocompromised, or living with chronic medical conditions. These patients face a much greater risk of severe pneumonia, prolonged hospitalization, permanent disability, and even death. When hospitals fail to implement appropriate water management programs or otherwise neglect their responsibilities, patients and their families may have legal options.
If you or a loved one developed Legionnaires’ disease while receiving medical care, Greenstein & Pittari, LLP is prepared to investigate the circumstances, preserve critical evidence, and pursue every responsible party. Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) for a free consultation. There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hospital-acquired Legionnaires’ disease?
Hospital-acquired, or healthcare-associated, Legionnaires’ disease occurs when a patient is exposed to Legionella bacteria while receiving treatment in a healthcare facility. Unlike community-acquired infections, these cases often involve medically fragile individuals, including older adults, transplant recipients, cancer patients, intensive care patients, and those with weakened immune systems. Because these patients are particularly vulnerable, hospitals are expected to exercise a high level of care in maintaining safe water systems.
How does Legionella spread in hospitals?
Legionella bacteria grow within building water systems when conditions allow the bacteria to multiply. Patients typically become infected by inhaling contaminated water droplets rather than through person-to-person contact. Potential sources include patient room showers, bathroom faucets, sink fixtures, ice machines, hydrotherapy equipment, respiratory therapy equipment that uses water, cooling towers, hot water systems, plumbing systems, and, in some circumstances, humidification systems.
What steps should hospitals take to prevent Legionnaires’ disease?
Hospitals should implement comprehensive water management programs that include routine inspections, water temperature monitoring, flushing protocols, disinfection procedures, environmental testing, cooling tower maintenance, water treatment, preventive maintenance schedules, staff training, contractor oversight, and detailed maintenance documentation. These measures are designed to reduce the risk of Legionella growth and protect vulnerable patients from preventable exposure.
Can you sue a hospital for Legionnaires’ disease?
Possibly. A hospital may be legally responsible if negligent maintenance of its water systems caused or contributed to a patient’s illness. A successful claim generally requires evidence that the hospital owed a duty of care, failed to reasonably maintain its water systems, that Legionella bacteria proliferated because of those failures, that the patient was exposed at the hospital, and that the exposure caused the illness. Depending on the facts, a case may involve premises liability, ordinary negligence, medical malpractice, or a combination of legal theories.
Who else may be responsible?
Hospitals frequently rely on outside companies to inspect and maintain portions of their building systems. In addition to hospital owners and operators, potentially responsible parties may include property management companies, maintenance contractors, plumbing contractors, engineering firms, water treatment companies, and cooling tower service providers. Our attorneys investigate every potentially responsible party to identify all available sources of compensation.
What compensation may be available?
Depending on the circumstances, victims may recover compensation for emergency treatment, hospitalization, intensive care, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation, future medical treatment, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent physical limitations, and other damages permitted under New York law. If hospital-acquired Legionnaires’ disease results in a patient’s death, surviving family members may also have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Why is early investigation so important?
Hospitals often begin internal investigations and corrective measures immediately after identifying a possible Legionella infection. Plumbing systems may be flushed, equipment repaired, cooling towers cleaned, and maintenance procedures changed, all of which can alter or eliminate important evidence. Prompt legal representation allows attorneys to preserve records, consult experts, and investigate the circumstances before critical information is lost.
How much does it cost to hire Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?
Greenstein & Pittari represents Legionnaires’ disease victims on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront attorney’s fees, and you owe nothing unless we successfully recover compensation. We also provide free consultations so you can understand your legal rights without financial risk.
Why Choose Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?
Hospital Legionnaires’ disease cases require experience with infectious disease medicine, environmental engineering, hospital operations, and New York personal injury law. Greenstein & Pittari, LLP works with respected physicians, epidemiologists, microbiologists, environmental engineers, and water treatment experts to identify the source of exposure, preserve critical evidence, and build the strongest possible case for our clients.
Whether the exposure occurred at a hospital in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester County, or elsewhere in New York, we provide free consultations, bilingual legal services, personalized representation, and trial-ready advocacy focused exclusively on personal injury litigation.
If you or a loved one developed Legionnaires’ disease while receiving hospital care, call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) today for a free consultation.
Don’t Be a Victim Twice.