Have You Been Treated For Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide, also referred to as CO, is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause sickness and death due to asphyxiation.
Each year, more than two hundred people across the United States die from CO poisoning because of fuel burning items such as heaters, furnaces, water heaters, and kitchen ranges.
Still more die from the CO that is emitted from burning charcoal inside a garage, tent, home, or vehicle.
Additional people die from CO that is produced by running cars left in garages attached to the house.
On top of these tragic deaths, several thousand people are treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in emergency rooms each year.
There are a number of ways to become poisoned by CO.
Recently there have been a string of products making the news because of defective designs which cause the gas to leak out and into the air that is breathed.
A Pennsylvania heating company recently recalled about twelve hundred gas boilers because there was found to be an internal defect in the pressure switch which failed to shut down the boiler's vent or cause an air inlet blockage.
This defect caused the units to produce high levels of carbon monoxide placing consumers at risk.
Another similar recall was done by an Indiana company relating to thirty two thousand gas boilers.
In February of 2008, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of more than fifty thousand furnaces because of CO poisoning.
Further recalls have been issued for water heaters because of plastic venting components that can crack and leak gasses back into the house.
Tankless water heaters are no exception as they have internal components that can shift in transit which can cause air filter door switches to not work they way they are intended to work.
When the door does not properly close, lint and dust can build up causing a serious carbon monoxide poisoning risk.
The problems with boilers do not stop with those issues listed above.
One manufacturer recalled their boiler units because the boiler assembly itself was not properly sealed and exhaust and carbon monoxide can leak out during regular operation.
Portable generators are another device that are prone to issues with CO.
In January of 2007, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously decided to require the manufacturers of portable generators to place danger labels on their products in order to warn consumers as to the risk of carbon monoxide.
These labels contain the following warning: "Using a generator indoors CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES!" Finally, gas pool heaters have also faced recalls because they can emit an excessive amount of carbon monoxide and can quickly poison consumers.
Because there are so many products and ways a person can become sickened by carbon monoxide, lawsuits dealing with these types of poisonings can be quite complex.
There several different possibilities as to how a person became ill due to gas and who is responsible for the poisoning.
The main premise these cases are based upon is liability.
Carbon monoxide cases can involve complicated issues of causation, as well as the ability to prove that someone else did or did not do something that led to the act of poisoning.
Every single case involving CO is unique.
Some of the most common parties that can be held accountable include: a landlord or owner of the property, a manufacturer, a builder, or a service professional such as a heating and/or cooling expert.
Since CO cases often fall under the area of premises liability, property owners are often held accountable for any and all injuries that occur while someone is on their property.
For example, if a landlord fails to properly maintain a heating system and a tenant is poisoned by carbon monoxide, the landlord can be held accountable.
Premises liability also applies to all owners of the property, not solely landlords.
If you or a family member becomes ill or dies because of CO while staying at a hotel, someone else's home, while at camp, or anywhere else, you have the right to bring forth a legal claim to seek damages for your loss.
If you or someone you know has become ill or has died because of carbon monoxide poisoning, you should not delay in speaking with a personal injury attorney.
These professionals will review every detail of your case and provide you with advice on the best way to proceed.
Compensation for carbon monoxide victims can be broad, but often includes the following items: medical expenses (past, present, and future), a loss of income, pain and suffering, disabilities, emotional distress, a loss of quality of life, all costs for care, and various other types of damages.
For those who have lost a loved one because of carbon monoxide, a wrongful death claim can be filed.
Compensation for these cases includes: the cost of medical expenses, the cost of funeral expenses, a loss of income, loss of care, a loss of companionship, and various other types of damages.
Since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you never have to worry about how to fund your claim as it progresses through the legal system.
There are often no upfront fees, and you pay nothing until the time your case settles.
Personal injury attorneys who specialize in the area of premises and product liability will manage your case efficiently from start to finish.
You will take great comfort in knowing that all details of your case are being reviewed, and you have someone working hard to protect your legal rights.
Product manufacturers and owners of property owe people a particular duty of care, and reasonable level of safety.
When this duty is violated, or is not provided action must be taken to not only protect yourself and your legal rights, but to also protect others from having to endure the same pain and suffering.
Legal action cannot undo the harm that has already been done; it is the best way to stop similar actions from occurring in the future.
Each year, more than two hundred people across the United States die from CO poisoning because of fuel burning items such as heaters, furnaces, water heaters, and kitchen ranges.
Still more die from the CO that is emitted from burning charcoal inside a garage, tent, home, or vehicle.
Additional people die from CO that is produced by running cars left in garages attached to the house.
On top of these tragic deaths, several thousand people are treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in emergency rooms each year.
There are a number of ways to become poisoned by CO.
Recently there have been a string of products making the news because of defective designs which cause the gas to leak out and into the air that is breathed.
A Pennsylvania heating company recently recalled about twelve hundred gas boilers because there was found to be an internal defect in the pressure switch which failed to shut down the boiler's vent or cause an air inlet blockage.
This defect caused the units to produce high levels of carbon monoxide placing consumers at risk.
Another similar recall was done by an Indiana company relating to thirty two thousand gas boilers.
In February of 2008, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of more than fifty thousand furnaces because of CO poisoning.
Further recalls have been issued for water heaters because of plastic venting components that can crack and leak gasses back into the house.
Tankless water heaters are no exception as they have internal components that can shift in transit which can cause air filter door switches to not work they way they are intended to work.
When the door does not properly close, lint and dust can build up causing a serious carbon monoxide poisoning risk.
The problems with boilers do not stop with those issues listed above.
One manufacturer recalled their boiler units because the boiler assembly itself was not properly sealed and exhaust and carbon monoxide can leak out during regular operation.
Portable generators are another device that are prone to issues with CO.
In January of 2007, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously decided to require the manufacturers of portable generators to place danger labels on their products in order to warn consumers as to the risk of carbon monoxide.
These labels contain the following warning: "Using a generator indoors CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES!" Finally, gas pool heaters have also faced recalls because they can emit an excessive amount of carbon monoxide and can quickly poison consumers.
Because there are so many products and ways a person can become sickened by carbon monoxide, lawsuits dealing with these types of poisonings can be quite complex.
There several different possibilities as to how a person became ill due to gas and who is responsible for the poisoning.
The main premise these cases are based upon is liability.
Carbon monoxide cases can involve complicated issues of causation, as well as the ability to prove that someone else did or did not do something that led to the act of poisoning.
Every single case involving CO is unique.
Some of the most common parties that can be held accountable include: a landlord or owner of the property, a manufacturer, a builder, or a service professional such as a heating and/or cooling expert.
Since CO cases often fall under the area of premises liability, property owners are often held accountable for any and all injuries that occur while someone is on their property.
For example, if a landlord fails to properly maintain a heating system and a tenant is poisoned by carbon monoxide, the landlord can be held accountable.
Premises liability also applies to all owners of the property, not solely landlords.
If you or a family member becomes ill or dies because of CO while staying at a hotel, someone else's home, while at camp, or anywhere else, you have the right to bring forth a legal claim to seek damages for your loss.
If you or someone you know has become ill or has died because of carbon monoxide poisoning, you should not delay in speaking with a personal injury attorney.
These professionals will review every detail of your case and provide you with advice on the best way to proceed.
Compensation for carbon monoxide victims can be broad, but often includes the following items: medical expenses (past, present, and future), a loss of income, pain and suffering, disabilities, emotional distress, a loss of quality of life, all costs for care, and various other types of damages.
For those who have lost a loved one because of carbon monoxide, a wrongful death claim can be filed.
Compensation for these cases includes: the cost of medical expenses, the cost of funeral expenses, a loss of income, loss of care, a loss of companionship, and various other types of damages.
Since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you never have to worry about how to fund your claim as it progresses through the legal system.
There are often no upfront fees, and you pay nothing until the time your case settles.
Personal injury attorneys who specialize in the area of premises and product liability will manage your case efficiently from start to finish.
You will take great comfort in knowing that all details of your case are being reviewed, and you have someone working hard to protect your legal rights.
Product manufacturers and owners of property owe people a particular duty of care, and reasonable level of safety.
When this duty is violated, or is not provided action must be taken to not only protect yourself and your legal rights, but to also protect others from having to endure the same pain and suffering.
Legal action cannot undo the harm that has already been done; it is the best way to stop similar actions from occurring in the future.