CALL (800) 863-5312 to speak with a carbon monoxide LAWYER in Texas for free
Exposure to carbon monoxide can be especially dangerous and potentially life-threatening. While carbon monoxide is often very difficult to detect given that it is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, failing to properly recognize potential exposure can lead to serious illness and injuries, such as a coma, permanent brain damage, or other catastrophic injuries.
In some cases, these injuries may be caused by hotel owners or hotel management companies or other entities failing to properly maintain their equipment or ensure properties are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors; others fail to take steps to prevent equipment from causing exposure to carbon monoxide. If you or your loved one have been exposed to carbon monoxide and suffered injuries, call Zinda Law Group today at (800) 863-5312 to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. If we are not able to win your case, you will not owe us anything.
what should i do after a carbon monoxide poisoning in texas?
If you have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning, be careful to take the appropriate steps to seek potential compensation for your injuries. While each case is different, and the necessary steps may sometimes vary, common steps that will help you pursue any compensation you may be entitled to include:
1. Seek Any Necessary Medical Attention
If you or your loved one are suffering from a carbon monoxide injury, seek medical help as soon as possible. Even slight carbon monoxide exposure can require costly medical treatment and cause potentially catastrophic injuries including permanent brain damage or other permanent injuries.
2. Maintain Any Medical Records or Documentation
Be careful to maintain any medical records for any such treatment to help substantiate your claim and the full extent of the injuries suffered by you or your loved one. This documentation will help your attorney support the extent of your financial costs incurred in treating your carbon monoxide injury, as well as provide additional documentation that may indicate how you were exposed to the carbon monoxide.
3. Contact an Experienced Carbon Monoxide Injury Lawyer
As with many personal injury cases, one of the most important steps you can take to help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries may be to hire a skilled carbon monoxide lawyer as soon as possible to handle your claim for you. Your attorney can help you understand the legal time limits within which you can file any lawsuit seeking compensation; they can also negotiate with any insurance companies on your behalf to seek a reasonable settlement offer and avoid the expense and delay of a trial.
How does carbon monoxide poisoning occur?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas, consisting of one carbon molecule and one oxygen molecule (monoxide). Given the difficulty recognizing the presence of carbon monoxide gas versus natural gas and other substances, people may have no idea that they have been exposed until it may be too late and the victims fall unconscious, potentially suffering serious or permanent brain damage, or even death.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen in many places, including your home, your vehicle, or even while at work. The CDC estimates that approximately 430 people die every year in the United States from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, while about another 50,000 people visit emergency rooms or hospitals every year as a result of accidental exposure or poisoning.
Common Sources of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is ultimately a toxic byproduct that can occur from the incomplete burning of various substances, such as:
- Oil
- Wood
- Kerosene
- Gasoline
- Propane
- Natural gas
Common Causes of Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Meanwhile, some of the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning, or where the carbon monoxide gas originated from, may include:
- Car exhausts, especially in enclosed spaces
- Electric heaters
- Water heaters
- Furnaces that burn gasoline
- Boats and RVs
- Grills that burn coal
- Fireplaces or chimneys
- Gas-powered generators
Winter Storm Risk
Finally, the risk of poisoning from carbon monoxide during a winter storm is often much higher than during other weather conditions. During a winter storm, like the one Texas suffered in February 2021, people may rush to find additional heating sources or supplemental power sources, often using gasoline-powered generators or other equipment that can be deadly if used within an enclosed space. When areas lose power due to a winter storm, and people lose their primary source of heat, some individuals may attempt to use a generator, barbecue pit, or other outdoor equipment to produce heat indoors.
Because of the difficulty of staying warm during a winter storm, especially when it affects electrical power, individuals must keep in mind that any supplemental heating source must be properly operated and used to avoid potential exposure to harmful, poisonous vapors. Any heating system that works off of propane, natural gas, or oil can emit carbon monoxide, and even a fireplace can release this gas if it is not vented correctly. As a result, staying warm should be a priority, but doing so as safely as possible should be the goal.
