Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is emitted from burning fuel sources. During combustion, the fuel may not be completely burned, leading to a release of carbon monoxide. It is a deadly fume if it is inhaled for long periods of time. Even short bursts of exposure can cause simple side effects that may leave you mildly sick. It is in your best interests to always evaluate your living quarters and frequent locations so that you can be sure the carbon monoxide levels are manageably low or nonexistent. If you do become afflicted with carbon monoxide poisoning, you should seek medical treatment at the first symptoms so that you can have a good chance at catching it early, as there is a chance you can be misdiagnosed. If you contracted CO poisoning because of another entity’s negligence, you should pursue legal action. A CO exposure poisoning injury lawyer in San Bernardino at the Normandie Law Firm will be able to help you get started.
Carbon Monoxide Causes
Because carbon monoxide gases are emitted from burning fuel sources, there are numerous ways that they can enter the atmosphere and your immediate breathing space. The emissions occur when combustion does not fully complete and the carbon escapes; the gas enters your body and deprives your cells of oxygen. This leads to damage in the rest of your body, including your brain, heart, and lungs. The most common causes of carbon monoxide emissions include:
- Motor vehicle exhausts: There are thousands of cars on the road, and the amount of carbon monoxide that is emitted generally dissipates into the atmosphere and may cause damage to the air, but because of the large space, you may not be damaged to the extent you would be if you were to breathe in the exhaust fumes in a closed garage.
- Natural occurrences: Forest fires, marshes, and mines all give off varying amounts and types of emissions. These gases may waft into your neighborhood or you may be near the locations for work. Either way, the gases can cause mild carbon monoxide poisoning, but a prolonged stay could worsen the damage.
- Industrial exhaust and burning waste: The various fumes that are given off by factories can easily contain carbon monoxide fumes, as well as the action of burning waste, since not all waste burns evenly and effectively.
- Heating systems: Furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces, and more can all improperly burn fuel sources. These heating systems may be present in workplaces or in homes and can cause severe damage if carbon monoxide is emitted, as there are numerous people who may be affected.
- Appliances: Stoves, ranges, grills, refrigerators, and other such appliances can burn fuel incompletely. If these appliances were not adequately inspected or fixed prior to a tenant moving in to an apartment or home, the landlord could be held wholly responsible.
- Products: Certain products, like lawn mowers, snow blowers, and leaf blowers, may be powered by gasoline, which could inefficiently burn fuel. If these products are left in an enclosed space such as a garage, the emissions could turn into deadly amounts.
If you believe your carbon monoxide poisoning was caused because of one of these reasons and you were not responsible for your illness, call a carbon monoxide exposure law firm in San Bernardino today.
Assigning Liability
There are numerous parties that could be blamed for carbon monoxide poisoning. A CO lawyer in San Bernardino can help you pinpoint who is at fault and help you take legal action against them.
- Landlords: If an appliance in your home is faulty and a landlord did not initially replace or repair it, or if you alerted a landlord to a defective appliance that was causing your carbon monoxide levels to reach damaging amounts and he does not do anything to alleviate the issue, you could sue the landlord for negligence. Landlords have a duty to all tenants, and thanks to the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010, all dwellings that are fit and intended for human occupancy must have adequate carbon monoxide detectors in them. If a landlord does not take proper steps to fix an emission issue, he could be fined and forced to pay restitution.
- Business owners and property managers: If you are constantly in a building that has carbon monoxide emissions, you may feel the effects on your health. These buildings may have improperly installed heating systems or a poor set of appliances to clean the store. Because it is often enclosed, the emissions may cause sickness to the customers over a prolonged period of time, as well as damage the health of the workers. If you are negatively affected by carbon monoxide levels in a commercial building, you should consult with a lawyer to figure out the next step. Property owners must make all entrants aware that they are at risk for CO exposure by entering the premises.
- Companies and Distributors: Products that are faulty or defective may emit carbon monoxide in their usage. It is crucial that the relevant companies affix warning labels to the packaging or to the products themselves so as to prevent widespread or improper usage of these products. If there are no adequate warnings, the company could be sued for product liability and pay heavy damages.
A San Bernardino lawyer with experience in carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuits can help you take additional action.
Potential Injuries from Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and its symptoms are vague and indicative of many other conditions. This is why it is important that you do your research and ask a doctor to conduct tests on you to determine if your oxygen levels are greatly depleted. You may be able to catch the sickness early and take the necessary steps to remove the emissions from your home or cause a property owner to ventilate his premises and prevent more fumes from building up.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Balance and coordination troubles
- Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle weakness
As the condition progresses and more and more cells die off, the symptoms grow more severe. Eventually, without proper treatment, CO exposure can lead to delirium, cognitive troubles, brain damage, memory loss, heart troubles, lung injuries, sleep disruption, persistent headaches, neurological deficiency, and more. At worst, the sickness could pervade long enough to cause death.
In order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from proceeding further, your doctor will likely give you pure oxygen in order to keep your cells from dying. You may be placed into a chamber to directly force oxygen into the body if a simple breathing tube is not enough.
If you experience these symptoms and a doctor has not listened to your claim about carbon monoxide poisoning, call a San Bernardino lawyer for carbon monoxide poisoning to be referred to another doctor.
Compensation from a Lawsuit
If you initiate a carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit or carbon monoxide wrongful death lawsuit, you may be able to earn various types of compensation for your damages. These damages include:
- Medical expenses for various treatments and hospitalization fees. You may also receive coverage for future procedures if you require them, such as restorative surgery or therapy.
- Lost wages from the days you missed work. Any potential earnings from the future could be reimbursed as well if additional medical procedures will cause you to miss work or if you must take more time to heal.
- Property damage, including replacement costs or repair fees for any appliances or products that were defective or faulty and caused your carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Pain and suffering damages, or compensation for the emotional pain you suffered because of the ordeal. You could receive restitution for PTSD, anxiety, fear, psychological anguish, mental scarring, and more.
- Wrongful death damages, including loss of consortium, loss of companionship, reimbursement of expected savings and wages, and funeral costs.
If you are in need of a San Bernardino attorney experienced in CO exposure lawsuits, call Normandie Law Firm today. We will be able to help you sue the necessary party for damages.
Normandie’s Assistance
Our team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm is well equipped to handle your carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit. We will be able to help you sue your landlord, a property owner, or a company responsible for your carbon monoxide illness. CO exposure is a serious condition and you deserve the max compensation available under the law. Our lawyers will aggressively fight to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company and we will not stop until you are satisfied with the result.
Call us today to schedule a free legal consultation with one of our skilled attorneys. If you have questions about the legal process, we will gladly answer them. We will also inform you of what we believe your case is worth and how much we expect to earn for you. If you choose us to represent you, you will receive a zero fee guarantee on your claim – meaning that you pay no out of pocket expenses throughout the process. We will only get paid if we win, and the money will be taken out of the settlement we earn for you. If we lose, you are off the hook, and we cover all the costs ourselves. You will owe us nothing at all. At no point throughout the litigation process will you have to use your own money, win or lose.
Contact Normandie Law Firm to speak with a San Bernardino attorney experienced in CO exposure lawsuits.
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