Carbon monoxide poisoning affects over 20,000 people per year. It can cause numerous types of injuries, and if left untreated, can even result in death. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, and more, they may not be aware they are even being exposed to it. In some cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can be attributed to the negligent actions of another party, allowing you to file a carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit. By taking legal action, you can receive various types of compensation for your injuries. A CO exposure poisoning injury lawyer in Sacramento at Normandie Law Firm can help you get started.
What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning is the inhalation of carbon monoxide, which leads to the death of red blood cells in the body. The cells die due to a lack of oxygen, which means your organs do not receive the oxygen they need to function as well. As a result, your body begins to suffer; if no action is taken, the organs will shut down.
How is Carbon Monoxide Emitted?
When fuel sources are burned, the carbon is converted into energy. If the combustion process is incomplete or inadequate, the carbon is emitted into the air, where it becomes carbon monoxide. The most common causes of carbon monoxide emissions are as follows:
- Vehicle exhausts from cars, trucks, planes, boats, and more
- Smoking products like cigarettes, cigars, and pipes
- Factory waste that is burned off
- Defective appliances like refrigerators, stoves, ranges, grills, and more
- Faulty heating systems like boilers, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces, central heating systems, furnaces, and others
- Malfunctioning household, home improvement and maintenance, or landscaping products like lawn mowers, snow blowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, and more
- Natural causes like forest fires, mines, marshes, and swamps
For assistance determining what the cause of your carbon monoxide poisoning was, contact a Sacramento lawyer with experience in carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuits.
What are Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Victims of carbon monoxide poisoning may not know they are afflicted with the disease. It can be troublesome to diagnose, especially if your doctor does not conduct any tests on you to quantify your oxygen levels. The symptoms are not indicative of any one specific disorder; you could very well be diagnosed with the flu and told to go home to rest, which could prove even more dangerous if your home is concentrated with carbon monoxide.
If any of the following symptoms manifest themselves, you should seek assistance from a medical professional immediately and inquire about the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea
- Mood change
- Anxiety
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
If you choose to ignore the symptoms, you may be gravely injured. To receive a recommendation for a skilled doctor, contact our carbon monoxide exposure law firm in Sacramento.
What Kind of Injuries Can Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cause?
Because of its tasteless, odorless, and colorless nature, carbon monoxide is often called the “silent killer.” It can wreak havoc on a household if the household lacks a carbon monoxide detector and if a doctor’s diagnosis is mistaken. Continuing to inhabit a home that is filled with carbon monoxide fumes can prove fatal in some cases. The most common results of carbon monoxide poisoning are:
- Persistent and consistent headaches
- Loss of cognitive ability
- Sleep problems
- Lung and breathing issues
- Heart and pulmonary problems
- Brain damage
- Delirium and confusion
- Death
A Sacramento lawyer for carbon monoxide poisoning can help you receive the maximum compensation if your injuries were extensive and can be blamed on the negligent actions of another party.
Who Can I Sue for my Injuries?
Some causes of carbon monoxide do not have a single force behind them; you cannot sue the forest for a forest fire’s emissions, for example, and the myriad smokers and drivers on the street cannot be collectively at fault for your sickness. You can only sue someone who was supposed to have a duty of care to you.
As a result, some of the common parties you can take legal action against include:
- Landlord: Your landlord has a duty to provide you with a safe and healthy living space. He must have inspected all areas of the home and everything else that comes with the location; if any of the appliances or heating systems were faulty or broken and emitted carbon monoxide, it would be the landlord’s duty to fix or replace them. If he chooses not to take any action and you get sick because of it, you could file a lawsuit against him. Further, landlords are under a special duty because of the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010, which states that all landlords must have installed carbon monoxide detectors in any apartments that are intended for human occupation.
- Property owner: If you are on a premises that provides commercial services, or even if you are at your workplace, the property owner must take care to offer a safe environment for all individuals. Some buildings are older and have asbestos in them, while others were improperly outfitted with heating systems that could be faulty. Whatever the reason may be, some property owners provide warning signs on their buildings that make the individual aware that, by entering the premises, there is a chance of inhaling potentially dangerous gases, such as carbon monoxide. If there is no warning at the entrance of the building, you may be able to sue if you contract carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if the owner denies that there were any fumes and it turns out that he was lying.
- Business or company: Any business that sells you a defective product that emits carbon monoxide could be the target of a lawsuit. These kinds of claims may even be filed by numerous people in class action lawsuits if the products’ malfunctions affect many individuals. When making a purchase, you are entitled to a safe product that will not harm you if properly used. Any company that does not do its due diligence in providing you with such a product can be sued for your rightful compensation.
If you need help trying to figure out who the proper target is for your claim, reach out to a Sacramento attorney experienced in CO exposure lawsuits.
How Can I File a Lawsuit?
In order for you to file a claim, you must be able to prove that you were the victim of negligent action and that you were physically affected by carbon monoxide poisoning. You will likely file a personal injury lawsuit, which has four points that must be proven: you were owed a duty of care, that duty of care was breached in some manner, the breach led to an incident, the incident brought on physical injuries.
You should make sure that you keep any medical bills showing that you were afflicted with carbon monoxide poisoning and you should keep the product or appliance that was giving off emissions. Without such solid evidence, your claim may be thrown out.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
You only have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in the State of California. If you wait too long, you will have no options for compensation and will have to foot all the bills yourself. Fortunately, with the help of an experienced CO lawyer in Sacramento, you will be certain to have all of your evidence collected and your claim filed on time.
You may even be granted an extension to the statute of limitations if the circumstances allow it. If you were under the age of eighteen at the time of the injury, the statute of limitations would not begin until you turn eighteen, for example. If you were physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to file a claim, the amount of time you were unable would be added to the deadline. Further, if the defendant left the state or the country, the deadline would be temporarily suspended until he returns.
What Compensation Can I Receive?
Carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuits can net you various types of restitution. As is usually the case with most personal injury claims, you can receive coverage for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and more.
Further, because of the fact that carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly, you may be able to file a carbon monoxide wrongful death lawsuit if a loved one or family member passes away due to complications from the illness. In this scenario, you could receive coverage for medical bills and pain and suffering accrued prior to the individual’s death, as well as compensation for funeral expenses, the expected loss of inheritance and savings, loss of consortium, loss of companionship, and more.
How Does Normandie Help?
Normandie Law Firm is here to assist victims of carbon monoxide poisoning in any way possible. We have handled these types of claims for years, and we know the ins and outs of the law better than anyone. Our attorneys have litigated dozens of lawsuits and call upon years of experience at a moment’s notice to help you receive the fairest settlement possible. Our aggressive lawyers do not step pursuing your compensation until you are satisfied, and if need be, we will go to court to fight for your restitution.
Call us today to schedule a free legal consultation with an accomplished lawyer. Any questions you have can be answered by a live person, and we will be happy to look over your case and tell you what we believe we can earn for you. If you choose us to represent you, you will get our zero fee guarantee, which states that you will never use any of our own savings to pay for our services. Our fees will be paid only if we win your case, at which point the money will be taken from the settlement we earn for you. If we lose, you do not have to pay a dime.
For more assistance, get in contact with one of our Sacramento lawyers with expertise in CO poisoning.
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