Published on:

Protecting Your Family from Radon

Radon is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless radioactive gas that’s virtually impossible to detect without a specific test. It occurs naturally when construction materials, soil, and rock decay. Radon exists in many homes and apartment buildings, and even though residents may not know about it.

What is most worrying is that while you can’t see radon, it can cause devastating damage, even causing lung cancer in some cases. In fact, research suggests radon causes 21,000 fatalities linked to lung cancer every year across the country.

1024px-Radon_test_kit

In Florida, about one in five homes have radon, and unless homeowners or tenants test they may not know it. To protect yourself from radon exposure, there are a few things you can do:

1) Get your home tested

Certified radon testing professionals can come to your home and test for radon. You can also buy radon testing kits at your local hardware or home improvement stores. If it has been several years since you’ve tested, test again. Keep in mind radon levels can increase over time, so the levels in your home can change.

2) If you’re constructing a new home, make sure it has radon resistant features

The construction company or company designing your new property can help you find out about to these features and can help you implement them into your home construction plan. It is especially important to include radon resistant features in areas where radon is common across multiple neighborhoods or multiple homes.

Some features which could help you avoid radon exposure in the future include:

  • Gravel under the home’s foundation. This helps radon remain under the home rather than moving into living spaces. The gravel can be even more efficient if heavy sheeting is laid down over it, adding another barrier to prevent gases from entering the home.
  • Sealing. Using sealant along the walls and foundation floor can prevent radon from seeping into the home.
  • A radon vent. A pipe can be used to safely vent radon from under the home’s foundation up through the home and through the roof.

3) If testing shows elevated levels of radon, get professional assistance

You will need to act quickly to reduce high levels of radon and protect your family.

Do I have a claim if my home shows high levels of radon?

If testing shows high levels of radon, you may have a claim if the radon was caused by someone’s negligence. For example, if you have built a new home with radon resistant features but these features were not installed as promised or were not correctly installed, you may have a claim against the construction company. If you rent your home or have recently bought your home and the landlord or previous homeowner knew about radon but did not disclose this information, you may have a claim.

Although radon is naturally occurring, if someone is negligent or tries to cover up the presence of radon on your property, you may have a personal injury claim in Hollywood or your community. To find out whether you have legal options, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Mr. Flaxman is highly skilled and very pleasant to work with. He communicated with me at every step in the process, and clearly presented information relating to my case. To anyone considering retaining his firm, I highly recommend him. Clara Barman
★★★★★
THE BEST. Honest, very knowledgeable, fast and easy. has helped me in numerous situations and has never failed me. Joe Gee
★★★★★
Charlie is a very skilled attorney that advocates hard for his clients. But the best part is he is an all around great guy. He cares about helping and doing what is right for people and his community. And he is not afraid to fight against those who do wrong or against threats to our world. He is fluent in Spanish as well. Do yourself a favor and call him. Andy
★★★★★
I had a lawyer on another case and I never spoke to the lawyer and I hated that I never knew what was going on in my case. Mr. Flaxman was in constant communication with me, explained everything to me, and his staff was really great too. My phone calls were always returned immediately. It was refreshing to be able to speak to my attorney personally. I would HIGHLY recommend Mr. Flaxman as an attorney to anyone who has been in an accident. Gloria
★★★★★
I found Mr. Flaxman to be an excellent attorney for my personal injury case. This is actually the second time I have used him and he really represented my interests. He explained everything thoroughly and he was very available for my questions. Carol
Contact Information