Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a debilitating sickness if it goes unchecked – which it often does due to its tasteless, odorless, and colorless nature. You may not be aware that you are sick for some time, and even a doctor’s visit may not be enough to cure you; the sickness is often misdiagnosed as the flu or another illness, for instance. It can be equally as problematic to find the source of your illness due to how many different contributors there are in our daily lives. However, some sources may be more prevalent than others are, and if you can pinpoint the primary cause of your illness, you can determine if a lawsuit should be filed. The presence of carbon monoxide emissions may point to negligence on behalf of another party. If so, you could receive compensation for your damages, and we at Normandie Law Firm can help. Our team of Orange County – Orange, Anaheim, Newport Beach lawyers with expertise in CO poisoning can help you file a carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit.
How Carbon Monoxide is Formed
Carbon monoxide is formed when fuel sources inadequately, incorrectly, or insufficiently burn; the carbon is left behind and emitted into the atmosphere. Fuels like wood, propane, kerosene, oil, gasoline, propane, and more can all be sources of emissions. Although it is naturally occurring in nature, it is generally not harmful if inhaled in very small doses or if it is likely to quickly dissipate into the open air.
Sources of Carbon Monoxide Emissions
It is important to figure out where your carbon monoxide poisoning came from. If you found that you were affected because of time spent in nature, you may be able to trace the carbon monoxide to a forest fire, marsh, swamp, or mine; these locations generally give off toxic fumes due to the many chemical reactions occurring within them.
If you were only in urban or suburban areas, you may have grown slightly sick due to emissions from automobiles and factories. Automobiles, such as trucks, boats, cars, and trains, can have very toxic emissions from their exhausts, and due to how many hundreds of thousands of cars there are on the road, it is no surprise that many people suffer from mild carbon monoxide poisoning. Factories also burn off waste, and if you live nearby, you may inhale these fumes on a daily basis. However, because of how low the concentration levels are, you will not likely get terribly sick, but you will also not be able to pinpoint an entity to sue. The factory owners can easily claim that the numerous vehicles that drive around are equally as responsible for emissions as their fumes, and pursuing a lawsuit may be extremely difficult.
It is much easier to take legal action if a landlord could be held responsible for your carbon monoxide poisoning. This is most commonly seen when an apartment you rent has a faulty heating system, like a water heater or furnace, or when the appliances provided, like a stove or grill, are faulty. Any fireplaces, space heaters, generators, ranges, refrigerators, and other household things that may come standard with homes should be thoroughly examined by your landlord, and if any emissions are detected, it is his responsibility to solve the problem. If the problems could be traced to your negligent actions, such as by tampering, or if they began after you moved in, you may not be able to file a claim against your landlord.
A similar cause for carbon monoxide poisoning can be found in items that use fuel and are kept around the house. Many people purchase lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and snow blowers to help them complete tasks outside, but these items are usually kept in the basement or garage, which can lead to high levels of carbon monoxide remaining concentrated in the air. The company responsible for selling you the faulty product could be held liable.
For more help, reach out to a CO exposure poisoning injury lawyer in Orange County – Orange, Anaheim, Newport Beach.
Physical Effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
When carbon monoxide is breathed into the body, the red blood cells are deprived of oxygen, and as a result, your organs do not get the oxygen required to effectively function. Long term exposure to carbon monoxide can be extremely detrimental to your organs, and if you are not careful, you could become extremely sick.
Determining if you have carbon monoxide poisoning can be problematic if you do not recognize the symptoms. At first glance, you may feel as though you have the flu, and doctors might agree; they could prescribe you with bed rest, which may prove very problematic if the source of carbon monoxide poisoning is in your home. If you feel any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical help immediately:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Loss of coordination
- Muscle weakness
- Balance issues
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
The higher the concentration of carbon monoxide, the more severe the symptoms become. If you do not get help from a medical professional, you could suffer various health problems, some of which may be permanent. You could be afflicted with:
- Persistent headaches
- Sleep trouble
- Cognitive issues
- Heart problems
- Lung trouble
- Brain damage
- Death
If you are not careful, you could be permanently affected by some of these damages. In order to be cured of carbon monoxide poisoning, a doctor will place you on pure oxygen, either by a breathing tube or a chamber that you can rest in. You can become sick to the point that working or even leaving the house is a chore.
To get a recommendation for a skilled doctor or healthcare physician, contact an Orange County – Orange, Anaheim, Newport Beach lawyer for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Statute of Limitations
If you intend to file a lawsuit against your landlord, a property owner, or a business for your carbon monoxide poisoning, you should be aware that you only have a statute of limitations of two years from the date of the injury. If you take any longer, you will likely be unable to receive any compensation.
There are some exceptions that an attorney can fight for, however. If you were underage at the time of the sickness, the deadline would not start counting down until the day of your eighteenth birthday. If the responsible party left the state or the country, the statute would be temporarily suspended until he returns. If you were unable to file a claim due to physical or mental incapacitation, the time limit could be extended depending on when you return to competence.
To find out if you are eligible for any exemptions, call an Orange County – Orange, Anaheim, Newport Beach lawyer with experience in carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuits.
Compensation
Filing a lawsuit can result in you receiving various types of compensation for your injuries. With our help, you can be sure to be fully covered for all of your damages. You could receive:
- Medical expenses, including surgery costs, hospitalization costs, medication fees, and more, as well as coverage for any future treatments that you need.
- Lost income from missed days at work, including reimbursement for any future missed wages due to injury, medical help, or recovery.
- Property damage if anything needs to be replaced or repaired to prevent it from emitting carbon monoxide fumes
- Pain and suffering damages, or coverage for emotional stress, psychological scarring, PTSD, fear, anxiety, and more.
- Punitive damages, which are additional amounts of monetary compensation that are doled out if the defendant acted in gross negligence or with the intent to cause harm. These damages are meant to punish him even more, but courts often view these damages as excessive. It will require a skilled CO lawyer in Orange County – Orange, Anaheim, Newport Beach to win these damages for you.
If a loved one or a family member passed away as a result of complications from carbon monoxide poisoning, you could file a carbon monoxide wrongful death lawsuit. You would be able to earn coverage for funeral expenses, loss of consortium, loss of expected wages and inheritance, loss of sexual relations, pre-death medical expenses, pre-death pain and suffering, and much more.
Our carbon monoxide exposure law firm in Orange County – Orange, Anaheim, Newport Beach will be able to give you more information.
Normandie: Right for You
If you have been afflicted with carbon monoxide poisoning and another individual or party is responsible for your sickness, you could file a lawsuit to pursue legal compensation. We are committed to helping our clients and will not stop until you are satisfied with the settlement you receive. Our aggressive attorneys will take your case all the way to court if necessary. With our firm, you are guaranteed to be treated as fairly as possible.
Call us today to receive a free legal consultation with an accomplished attorney. If you have questions about carbon monoxide lawsuits or what your case may be worth, we will go through all the details with you so you can make an informed decision about how to best proceed. If you choose us to represent you, you will be given our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you pay no out of pocket expenses for our help. We only get paid if we win your case, and the money will be taken from the settlement we earn for you. If we lose, you owe us nothing at all, and we eat all the costs of the case ourselves.
Contact an Orange County – Orange, Anaheim, Newport Beach attorney experienced in CO exposure lawsuits for more help.
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