Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious and potentially fatal illness that is caused by breathing in carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a preventable risk. It occurs when a faulty appliance or piece of equipment burns fuel inefficiently. If you or a loved one has suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in San Antonio, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The San Antonio carbon monoxide attorneys at Hill Law Firm can help you understand and protect your rights during the legal process.
San Antonio Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Resources
Why Hire a Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawyer?
What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Causes of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Can Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cause Permanent Damage?
Compensation for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Victims
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Why Choose Our Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Attorneys in San Antonio?
- We are a team of trial lawyers who will do what it takes to achieve optimal results for our clients. We can go up against any defendant, big or small, on your behalf.
- Our San Antonio personal injury lawyers understand how to navigate the justice system. We have secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for past clients.
- Our carbon monoxide poisoning lawyers in San Antonio operate on a contingency basis. This means we will only charge a fee for our services if we win financial compensation for your case.
What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that can be found in fumes produced by the fuel-burning process. It can be created by motor vehicles, furnaces, lanterns, fireplaces, ovens and many other appliances. Carbon monoxide can be released when propane, natural gas, wood or coal is burned incompletely or inefficiently. This partial burning or incomplete combustion does not allow enough oxygen to create carbon dioxide (CO2). Instead, it produces CO.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when CO is breathed in by a victim. When there is too much carbon monoxide in the air, it can build up in the bloodstream. The oxygen in the red blood cells will be replaced with carbon monoxide. This can lead to serious tissue damage or death. At least 420 people die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, around 50,000 people visit emergency rooms for carbon monoxide poisoning.
What Can Cause Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning is avoidable. It occurs when a fuel-burning appliance does not function properly. Keeping up with equipment and appliance repairs, having fuel-burning appliances regularly maintained, knowing how to spot signs of faulty equipment, and replacing old or outdated appliances can help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Some examples of items that can create carbon monoxide include:
- Boilers and furnaces
- Charcoal grills
- Clogged chimneys
- Cooking appliances
- Dryer vents
- Factory emissions
- Faulty heaters
- Fires
- Gas clothing dryers
- Gas ranges or ovens
- Heating systems
- Portable heaters
- Small engines
- Vehicle exhaust fumes
Being in close quarters with an appliance that is producing carbon monoxide – such as being inside a car or home – can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. In many cases, an individual does not recognize CO poisoning until the symptoms are severe. At this point, the body has already become starved of oxygen, placing the victim at risk of serious tissue damage or death.
What Are the Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
If left undetected, a carbon monoxide leak can continue to poison a victim until it causes serious illness. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms are similar to several other illnesses, which can lead to delays in getting fresh air and calling for help. An individual should immediately get fresh air, call poison control and seek medical attention if CO poisoning is suspected. If any of the following symptoms are experienced with no clear cause, it may be carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea or upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Muscle pain
- Blurred vision
- Confusion or disorientation Â
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid breathing
- Rapid or abnormal heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Impaired judgment
- Irritability
- Seizures or convulsions
- Loss of consciousness
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are more pronounced in high-risk individuals, such as young children, older adults, and people with lung or heart disease. These individuals often feel the effects of carbon monoxide before others. Animals can also be affected by carbon monoxide poisoning sooner than humans; they may become weak or unresponsive.
Can Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cause Permanent Damage?
Yes. A loss of oxygen for a prolonged period can cause permanent damage to parts of the body, including the heart and brain. These are organs that require a lot of oxygen to continue functioning normally. In the most severe cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain cell death and permanent neurological damage. This can lead to issues with memory, speech, communication and concentration. Some victims fall into a coma and suffer wrongful death. In the event a loved one has died due to unnoticed carbon monoxide poisoning, contact our wrongful death attorneys in San Antonio.
Compensation Available to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Victims in San Antonio
Suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning could entitle a victim or loved ones to seek financial compensation through a personal injury claim. If negligence caused or contributed to the CO poisoning, the victim may have grounds for a claim against the at-fault party. If a landlord or property owner neglected to properly maintain a rental unit, for example, an injured tenant should contact a premises liability lawyer in San Antonio.
If carbon monoxide poisoning occurred at work, the employee may be able to file a lawsuit against the employer or company for negligence. Even if the employer was not negligent, a workers’ compensation claim may be available to pay for the victim’s medical bills and lost wages. A product liability lawsuit is another possibility; if the product or appliance that produced carbon monoxide had a manufacturing, marketing or design defect, the manufacturer or distributor of the product could be held responsible.
A successful carbon monoxide poisoning claim in Texas requires the victim to meet a burden of proof. The victim must prove that the defendant more likely than not caused the illness or death being claimed. An attorney can help you prove your carbon monoxide poisoning case with a comprehensive investigation and evidence collection. With assistance from an attorney, you can seek maximum financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, wrongful death damages, and other losses.
Contact Our San Antonio Carbon Monoxide Lawyers Today
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious issue that can cause lasting or fatal damage to victims. If you or someone you love has been affected by carbon monoxide poisoning in San Antonio, contact Hill Law Firm to request a free case evaluation. We will listen to your story and can list your legal options. Call (210) 960-3939 today.