Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most elusive conditions to discover, and if it is not caught within a certain time frame, it can lead to long-lasting or permanent consequences, even resulting in death. The presence of carbon monoxide indicates something that does not adequately burn fuel; there is not enough oxygen present to complete the process of combustion, and carbon monoxide escapes. The gas is both colorless and odorless, so you are never able to tell if there are any emissions. You may only be aware that you have been exposed once the symptoms begin to manifest. Our lawyers at Normandie Law Firm, a carbon monoxide exposure law firm in Riverside (Corona), aim to help those who have been affected by carbon monoxide poisoning due to the negligent action of another party.
Carbon Monoxide Causes Overview
Carbon monoxide is the result of incomplete combustion; it is not detectable by humans. Many locations have carbon monoxide detectors attached somewhere on the walls in order to alert people of the dangerous emissions. However, there are some places where this kind of detection system is impossible to take advantage of. Because carbon monoxide comes about from combustion and inadequate burning of fuel sources, it can be present in public places. For example, vehicle exhausts and emissions can pollute the air with carbon monoxide; in populated locations, the concentration may be quite dense. Other natural sources can also produce carbon monoxide, such as forest fires.
However, many cases of carbon monoxide poisoning arise in the home or in commercial buildings. For instance, a defective stove, grill, furnace, or other heating system may have a leak that causes carbon monoxide to pollute the air in the house. Gas powered tools, like snow blowers and leaf blowers, that are kept in the garage can leak. Individuals who smoke copious amounts of cigarettes and cigars can also contribute to the carbon monoxide levels in buildings.
If the cause of carbon monoxide emissions can be attributed to numerous people, you likely will not be able to bring about any legal action. However, if a faulty appliance or failure to properly install a heating system can be blamed, you may be able to point to a landlord or property manager to be held liable. For more information, reach out to a Riverside (Corona) lawyer for carbon monoxide poisoning
Liability
If you were the primary contributor to the carbon monoxide emissions in your home, you would not be able to sue anyone for damages. You should be aware that a lack of air circulation and an enclosed space can become very polluted very quickly, and you should take care to clean your home and air it out. Further, if you burn your own waste products, smoke inside, store gas-powered tools and appliances in your garage or shed, or break an appliance in your home, then you will only have yourself to blame. A good carbon monoxide detector will also help you be aware of the levels in your home.
You can point to the liability of another party if the individual was supposed to ensure that no emissions occurred. This is most common in situations involving tenants and landlords. Landlords have a responsibility to provide a clean, safe, and healthy living quarters for their tenants upon moving in. If a leaky stove or defective water heater is causing carbon monoxide to leak into the home, the landlord must do all he can to fix the issue, whether by replacing the appliance or repairing it. In commercial buildings like offices and stores, the presence of carbon monoxide can be due to the improper installation of an appliance or heating system. The property manager can be held responsible, but ultimately, the company or contractor that completed the installation can be blamed. This holds true for anyone who constructed buildings and did the installation work themselves.
If you need assistance figuring out what entity you can file a claim against, contact one of our Riverside (Corona) lawyers with expertise in CO poisoning.
Injuries from CO Exposure
The simple explanation of carbon monoxide is thus: breathing in the gas causes your cells to be deprived of the oxygen they need to survive. The longer the absence of this oxygen, the more damaging the effects; vital organs, including your brain, can be gravely damaged in minutes if there are high levels of carbon monoxide present.
Determining if you suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning can be difficult; the symptoms are not overly specific and can indicate numerous other conditions. However, as with all sicknesses, if you feel these symptoms come on and you believe something is wrong, you should schedule a doctor’s appointment immediately. The longer you wait, the higher the chance that the condition worsens. Some symptoms of CO poisoning include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Shortness of Breath
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Balance and Coordination Problems
- Confusion and Delirium
- Loss of Consciousness
- Muscle Weakness
The mental and cognitive symptoms become more pronounced if the condition goes unchecked. Eventually, without proper treatment, intense neurological damage can occur, such as permanent memory loss, cognitive impairment, chronic headaches, brain damage, disruptive sleep patterns, and more. At worst, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause death. Of the roughly 30,000 cases of documented carbon monoxide poisoning per year, fewer than 500 pass away due to complications from the condition. Though this may seem like a small number, it is one that can be reduced even further thanks to prevention techniques.
To learn more, speak with a CO exposure poisoning injury lawyer in Riverside (Corona).
Filing a Claim
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit, you would be able to file a claim to receive compensation. If you are filing a normal personal injury claim against a negligent landlord or property manager who did not do his due diligence in providing you with a safe environment and exposed you to carbon monoxide you have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. If you notice that your workplace is the cause of your condition and your boss and company did not do anything to alleviate it, you have one year from the date of the injury.
In order to provide evidence, you will have to show that the carbon monoxide levels if your residence or location were above normal and contributed to your sickness or were the primary cause. If there is a faulty appliance, heating system, furnace, water heater, or other kind of piece of evidence, you should refrain from using it and allow our attorneys to gather it for evidence.
A Riverside (Corona) attorney experienced in CO exposure lawsuits will be able to help ensure that all of your evidence is submitted on time and that you are suing the proper party. In some cases, you may be able to file a carbon monoxide wrongful death lawsuit. There are nuances present in wrongful death cases that may not be present in simple personal injury claims, and an experienced CO lawyer in Riverside (Corona) can give you more details.
Earnings
With the help of an expert attorney, you can receive various types of damages from your lawsuit. Your expenses can be taken care of and you will not have to worry about certain bills. You may receive:
- Medical expenses, including costs related to surgery, hospitalization, medication, and more. If you are in need of additional medical treatments after your case, those can be reimbursed as well
- Lost wages, or missed earnings from your job, can be handed out if you could not work because of your sickness. If you are forced to miss work in the future because of your condition or because of the additional medical procedures and recovery time, those wages could be recovered as well.
- Pain and suffering damages deal with the emotional pain that you went through because of your carbon monoxide poisoning. You can receive damages for PTSD, anxiety, fear, mental anguish, and more.
- A wrongful death claim can yield you the cost of funeral expenses for your loved one, as well as cover loss of consortium, loss of companionship, loss of expected earnings and savings, the deceased’s pain and suffering, and much more.
Do not hesitate to call our law group today – you can get started on earning the compensation you deserve.
Normandie’s Role
Our experienced lawyers at Normandie Law Firm in Riverside (Corona) are here to bring you the settlement you deserve for your carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit. You should not have to cover your own expenses if you were subjected carbon monoxide because of the negligence of another party. Our aggressive lawyers will do all we can to negotiate with the proper insurance party and will not stop until we are able to provide you with restitution.
Call us to schedule a free consultation with a skilled lawyer. We will discuss your case with you and tell you how much we believe we can earn. If you select us to represent you, we will give you a zero fee guarantee on your case, meaning you are not required to pay any money at all throughout the litigation process. We cover all costs of the case ourselves, and if we win, our fees are paid by the party we have sued. The settlement we bring you will provide us with our bills. If we lose, you do not owe anything at all. Therefore, your own private savings are never touched.
To speak with a Riverside (Corona) lawyer with experience in carbon monoxide poisoning, contact Normandie Law Firm today.
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