Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Carbon monoxide is produced by combustion engines that burn oil, gas, kerosene, or charcoal as fuel. This gas is very difficult to detect because it is colorless, odorless, and has no taste. Many people install carbon monoxide detectors, which can sound an alarm when carbon monoxide levels reach too high in a home. While home exposure is common, exposure at work or in vehicles is also common.
Finding out if you have a valid legal claim is the first step if you or someone you care about was injured by carbon monoxide exposure. Contact one of Premier Law Group’s expert Washington carbon monoxide injury or wrongful death lawyers today. Call Us At 206-285-1743 For A Free Case Review Today!
Expert Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawyers in Washington
There are many situations in which a person might have a lawsuit for injury or death caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Some of the more common include:
- A defective carbon monoxide detector, if it does not work as expected and does not alert people inside a home of dangerous gas levels. As a result, a person suffers serious injury or even death. In this situation, a person might have a legal claim against the manufacturer for producing a defective product.
- A landlord does not install a carbon monoxide detector or does not properly service one. This causes the serious injury or death of a tenant. In this example, a person might have a lawsuit against the landlord.
- A landlord runs a generator too close to an apartment building, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. The landlord could be sued.
- A malfunctioning vehicle exposes occupants to high doses of carbon monoxide. In this example, the manufacturer of the vehicle could be sued.
These are only some of the more common situations where exposure to dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide can harm innocent victims. There are others. If you were injured, or if a loved one died, please contact one of our Washington carbon monoxide attorneys for a free case review.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Many people suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning do not know what is wrong. Because of this, doctors also might struggle to properly diagnose a person with this type of poisoning.
Common signs that you have been exposed to too much carbon monoxide include:
- Confusion
- Blurred vision or difficulty seeing
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weakness
Some people also pass out, though not all victims of carbon monoxide poisoning lose consciousness.
Claiming Just Compensation for Carbon Monoxide-Related Injuries
Our clients are eligible for compensation for any of the following that can be attributed to the exposure to carbon monoxide:
- Medical bills
- Lost income or lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
Therefore, the amount of compensation depends on the circumstances. Some victims can physically recover from the poisoning, especially when the exposure wasn’t long. However, those who suffered significant poisoning might be left with permanent neurological damage. Consequently, this type of exposure can require lifelong medical assistance and prevent a person from ever working again.
Securing Compensation for Fatal Carbon Monoxide Incidents
If a loved one died, surviving family members might bring a wrongful death claim. Generally, a surviving spouse can file the lawsuit or children of the deceased. In other situations, parents and siblings, or the estate’s personal representative can bring the lawsuit.
The purpose of this suit is to compensate for the loss of a loved one. Many clients have qualified for compensation for:
- The income or wages the deceased would have earned had they lived
- The pain and suffering the deceased experienced before death
- Medical bills related to the carbon monoxide poisoning
- Expenses related to funeral or burial
Commonly, many of our clients can also receive compensation for the loss of companionship and care. These types of intangible losses can be difficult to tabulate monetary terms, so meeting with an attorney is critical to properly evaluating a claim.
Next Steps: Post Carbon Monoxide Injury or Loss of a Loved One
Because carbon monoxide poisoning is difficult to diagnose, many people do not know that they have been victimized and have valid legal claims. If you suspect carbon monoxide caused an injury, we recommend that you contact a personal injury attorney quickly.
If you had a carbon monoxide detector in the home, don’t throw it out. Often, your attorney will want to look at it to see if it was defective in design or manufacture, or if a maintenance tech did not properly fix it. If you believe another product caused an injury, like a defective car engine, you should also preserve it.
Connect with Washington’s Top Carbon Monoxide Legal Experts Today
Carbon monoxide injuries and deaths are often preventable, but negligence ultimately sends many of our clients to the emergency room. If you need help filing a claim, contact us here. Premier Law Group can assist you.
The training and experience of our Washington Carbon Monoxide Attorneys are very important in these types of injuries and deaths. Additionally, carbon monoxide cases can be complicated and we want to be there to help you through the process. We provide a FREE consultation with an experienced carbon monoxide injury attorney. When you call us, you will be connected directly to an attorney and they will tell you upfront if you have a case or not.