Chicago Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Injury Lawyers

It seems every year when the cold weather strikes, we hear about another tragedy involving an individual or family who was killed due to carbon monoxide poisoning when their furnace malfunctioned or was improperly vented. Thankfully, many necessary preventative measures can be employed to drastically reduce this deadly situation from occurring or identify danger at its onset (carbon monoxide detector).  A basic understanding of gas dangers is vital to protect people from harm to keep families safe.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC appreciates the hazards associated with carbon monoxide poisoning that people face every day. Our attorneys work hard to investigate all carbon monoxide poisoning cases to ensure all parties are held responsible for their role in an incident.

What is CO? How is CO made?

For general information purposes, carbon monoxide (CO) gas is often referred to as the “silent killer” because it is odorless, tasteless, colorless, and deadly. The gas is released when fossil fuels like oil are burned in open fires, gas stovetops, ovens, and furnaces. In confined areas, the gas can cause sickness and death. The best way to prevent gas poisoning requires you to protect yourself, your family, and home to avoid exposure to the noxious gas.

Effect Of Carbon Monoxide Exposure On The Body

Carbon monoxide is formed when a fossil fuel such as gasoline, oil, or charcoal is not entirely combusted during burning. When inhaled, this gas combines with hemoglobin in the person’s blood, blocking their ability to carry needed oxygen to the cells of the body. By inhaling large quantities of this gas, the body begins to suffocate even though the person is still breathing in air.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Depending on the amount of carbon monoxide in the air, the symptoms can affect the body within minutes or be delayed for a few hours. Poisoning can happen with lower exposures over a more extended period or substantial exposure in a short amount of time. In severe cases, death can occur in as little as a few minutes. The general symptoms, in the order of severity, are:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Brain Damage
• Convulsions / respiratory arrest
• Unconsciousness / Death

Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause long-term effects. Often, delayed neurological disorders happen a few days or weeks after the exposure. These delayed effects can include amnesia, short-term memory loss, dementia, and other neurological disorders. When a person dies due to carbon monoxide exposure at work or on the premises of another party, the family may pursue a lawsuit from a wrongful death.

Treatment For Carbon Monoxide Ingestion

The apparent first treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning is removal from the gas or area of exposure. For slight exposure, leaving the area will alleviate the symptoms within a few hours. However, for more severe exposure, oxygen is administered to hasten the depletion of accumulated gas in the body. Oxygen supplied through a ventilation mask can help the removal of carbon monoxide in the body in one-quarter the time it takes breathing healthy air. Other treatments may be needed for damage done to the brain and other organs from oxygen deprivation.

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Build-Up In Homes And Apartments

Since carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, it cannot be easily detected. The best prevention for homes that use gas or oil-fired heaters requires installing detectors in all rooms of the house. These devices are inexpensive and will give off an alarm if the levels become too high in the house. Other prevention methods are:

• Never burn a charcoal grill inside an enclosed home or garage. Every year when the power goes out, people try to dangerously heat or cook using a grill in an enclosed space, creating a life-threatening environment
• Never allow your car to idle within an enclosed area
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm to save lives and avoid serious injuries including a brain injury
• Always use the fan above gas stoves when cooking
• Know the dangers of using keyless ignition when parking in an enclosed area and not turning the engine off when leaving the vehicle
• Though rare, carbon monoxide poisoning during pregnancy can lead to fetal mortality or fetal neurologic complications that could result in cerebral palsy
• Always have chimneys, fuel heaters, and fireplaces inspected before winter use

Approximately 15,000 people are treated for carbon monoxide poisoning each year in the United States, and an average of 430 people die from CO exposure. The auto industry states that truck drivers and other motorists are at risk of a carbon monoxide leak from gas or diesel exhaust that could cause death or permanent brain injury. Do not let a family member become one of these statistics.
Like most personal injury cases, a faulty heater lawsuit begins with determining who is responsible for the injuries or death. Numerous parties might be included in the lawsuit if the problem was defective, poorly maintained equipment or improperly installed furnaces that result in injury or death. Potential defendants in a case may include:

• Furnace installation company
• Manufacturer
• Maintenance company
• Landlord or property owner

Hiring a Chicago Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Injury Attorney