Known as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is a potentially deadly gas that has no odor, color, or taste. This is why CO is undetected by most people for long periods of time, which is fine when the concentration of gas is at normal levels. The problem has to do with high concentrations of CO that accumulate due to lack of ventilation and other issues.
Any property that we live in, visit, or stay at can have circumstances that lead to an incident of carbon monoxide poisoning. Most cases of carbon monoxide injuries and death are preventable, as long as the property owner takes common sense measures to protect their guests. However, other parties, like a product manufacturer, can also be responsible for a CO poisoning event.
If you need advice from a San Bernardino carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can help with all your questions and concerns, including how to file a lawsuit for compensation if you or a loved one was harmed by toxic levels of carbon monoxide.
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Why Makes Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?
Frankly, carbon monoxide is a natural gas that exists in our daily environment, and it is not always dangerous. However, the gas has deadly effects on your body when it is inhaled in high amounts. This can happen because of emissions from fuel sources building up in structures that lack proper ventilation. Or, you have an appliance or some other product that is releasing unusually high amounts of CO.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common scenarios that can cause people to be injured by carbon monoxide gas:
- Stoves and other household appliances that are defective
- Lack of maintenance on heating systems, like water heaters and furnaces
- Exhaust from cars and other motor vehicles
- Defects with gardening equipment like leaf blowers and lawn mowers
- Release of carbon monoxide from wildfires and other natural disasters
- CO as part of toxic fumes released by factories (industrial waste)
- Accumulation of emissions from cigarettes, cigars, and other smoking products
How can I Tell if I have Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
It can be quite difficult to tell if you have been poisoned by CO, since the symptoms are similar to those of many other illnesses, including the flu. That’s why immediate medical attention is important to verify whether you are a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms to look out for include:
- Feeling of being confused or disoriented
- Dizziness and/or headaches
- Nausea, with or without vomiting
- Muscle weakness and overall sense of fatigue
- Respiratory issues, particularly shortness of breath
- Fainting
We recommend going to the ER, as early intervention is the key to preventing death and other serious health issues. The impact on your health is caused by oxygen deprivation to your cells, which can only be determined by tests at a hospital.
CO Poisoning and Its Life-Altering Effects
We mentioned that immediate medical attention is paramount when you notice the symptoms of poisoning by carbon monoxide. If you do not get treatment in a timely manner, you can end up with:
- Permanent breathing problems
- Chronic headaches
- Cognitive impairments resulting from brain damage
- Sleep disorders
- Coronary artery disease and other heart conditions
- Death
Who can I Sue if I am Diagnosed with CO Poisoning?
As a resident, visitor, or commuter to San Bernardino, it’s essential to understand the impact of CO poisoning on your life. It’s fair to say that some incidents of toxic exposure to CO cannot be blamed on anyone in particular. For instance, you may have a pre-existing health condition that makes you highly sensitive to carbon monoxide, even at relatively low levels.
But it’s fair to say that negligence by one or more parties is behind most cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in San Bernardino. This is very common in apartment buildings where the landlord or leasing company fails to implement safety measures that are required by law. Apartments, for example, must have layouts that allow for gases to ventilate, thereby preventing tenants from toxic fume injuries. Landlords must also ensure that units are equipped with legally compliant CO detectors and make repairs to appliances that are not working properly. Regular maintenance of heating system is another common sense method of protecting people from CO poisoning.
Commercial property owners also have a duty of care to prevent unhealthy levels of CO on the premises. Otherwise, people can be poisoned by carbon monoxide in places like hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, and office buildings. Manufacturers are another group that can be sued by victims of toxic gas exposure. It’s quite possible that the heating system was defective right from the start, or it was installed improperly by the manufacturer or another company.
Knowing who is liable for the harm you suffered can be challenging to determine, especially if there is more than one entity that contributed to the problem. A carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer in San Bernardino can help you file a lawsuit against the correct entity and fight to recover the highest possible settlement.
What Compensation can I Receive from a CO Poisoning Lawsuit?
Our team of personal injury lawyer can help you obtain numerous forms of compensation from a lawsuit for carbon monoxide poisoning. Potential damages that you can recover as a CO poisoning victim are as follows:
- Cost of short and long-term medical care
- Lost income, such as wages while you are recovering from work and future lost wages if you are unable to work or must take on a different position
- Payment for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering
- If there is a trial, punitive damages may be awarded by the jury if the defendant’s actions were particularly negligent or malicious.
A wrongful death lawsuit is another legal action that can provide victims with monetary compensation. With wrongful death claims, family members sue the guilty party for damages, like funeral costs, pain and suffering, and loss of future income and benefits.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
By contacting our legal team is San Bernardino, you can receive help from a team of lawyers that specialize in carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuits. Whether you are the injured party or lost a loved one, you can count on us to provide you with compassion, knowledge, and a way to move forward. For some people, filing a lawsuit may be the best course of action, but ultimately, our goal is to help you make an informed choice.
Those who are victimized by negligence must have access to high quality legal services. That’s why it would never occur to us to ask for payment upfront. We have a plan known as the Zero Fee Guarantee, where you can hire us on a contingency basis. In essence, we get paid once your settlement check is issued by the other party. If we don’t recover your payment, you owe us $0, meaning there is no impact on your finances whatsoever.
If you are ready to schedule a free case review one of our attorneys, please get in touch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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