Whenever people operate vehicles, machines, or appliances that burn fuel
in an enclosed space or with improper ventilation, it may create a hidden danger:
carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (“CO”) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless
gas formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels. According to the United
States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, more than
400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, while more than 20,000
Americans visit the emergency room, with more than 4,000 hospitalized.
CO is found in fumes when you burn fuels like charcoal, coal, gasoline,
kerosene, natural gas, oil, propane, or wood. Thus, CO is produced when
people use cars, trucks, small engines, portable generators, camp stoves,
lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, space heaters, and furnaces
that burn these fuels. CO can build up, and when people or animals breathe
it, it displaces the oxygen in their blood, leading to poisoning. The
most common symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach,
vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. These symptoms may be subtle and
may seem “flu-like.” And since people cannot detect CO with
their senses, victims are often unaware of the cause of their illness.
But breathing a lot of CO can make you pass out or kill you. People who
are sleeping or intoxicated can die without realizing they are experiencing
symptoms. Exposure can also cause long-term damage to the brain and respiratory
system, as well as miscarriage. If you suspect that you or someone else
is suffering from CO poisoning, get to fresh air and seek immediate medical
attention.
Injuries and
deaths from CO poisoning may be caused by a
defective product that releases dangerous levels of CO. CO poisoning may also result from
someone else’s failure to act reasonably or under the circumstances
or in disregard of known hazards. For example, a landlord, hotel operator,
or other business or premises owner may fail to properly maintain a furnace
or the venting ductwork on their property, thereby allowing CO to seep
into areas where people live, sleep, or work. They may also fail to install
or maintain CO detectors mandated by regulation or that are otherwise
reasonably required. Likewise, companies installing, repairing, or maintaining
furnaces or working on boats, RVs, and other vehicles may create or fail
to detect leaks in exhaust and venting systems.
In these kinds of circumstances, the law allows victims and their families
to seek damages as just compensation and to punish the wrongdoer.
Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law has solid experience representing victims of CO poisoning and has obtained
substantial recoveries on their behalf. If you or someone you know has
suffered a severe injury or death from CO poisoning, contact our office
for a free consultation and assessment of your case. You can do so by
phone, email, letter, or in person.
However, there are laws establishing how soon a victim of wrongdoing must
file suit in court after suffering harm. Thus, delay can dramatically
affect whether a lawsuit can be filed. All discussions with
our lawyers and staff
remain strictly confidential — even if you do not hire us to handle
your case. Call us for a free consultation at (205) 328-5050, or toll-free
at (888) 906-3955, or
fill out a contact form
today.