Merced Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawyer

In the United States, carbon monoxide poisoning is the fourth-leading cause of death, according to the American Council on Science and Health. It kills more Americans than terrorism and mass shootings combined. The CDC reports that approximately 50,000 people need emergency treatment in hospitals due to carbon monoxide poisoning, and approximately 430 lives are lost to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning every year. The most tragic part of these stats is that these deaths and injuries are entirely preventable. If you have lost a loved one to carbon monoxide poisoning, a Merced carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer can help.

What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer because it is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. It is created when fuels, such as gasoline, wood, natural gas, coal, or kerosene are burned. When these fuels are burned in spaces that are not properly ventilated, levels of carbon monoxide begin to build. If people are in these spaces and breathe in the fumes, it is toxic. Some of the most common devices that cause carbon monoxide poisoning are as follows:

• Defective cooking appliances
• Fires
• Tobacco smoke
• Diesel or gasoline-powered generators
• Idling vehicles or auto exhaust
• Clogged chimneys
• Defective wood, oil, coal, or gas furnaces
• Defective water heaters
• Gas log burners or wood-burning fireplaces
• Defective gas clothes dryers
• Fuel-burning appliances in campers or cabins, spa or pool heaters, barbecue grills, or ceiling-mounted heating units
• Inhaling smoke from wildfires
• Boat engines

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning has many different symptoms. The first ones to appear may seem fairly mild, but they will increase in severity the longer one is exposed. The most common symptoms are as follows:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and nausea
• Shortness of breath, particularly on exertion
• Chest pain
• Impaired judgment
• Depression
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Agitation
• Fainting
• Visual changes
• Abdominal pain
• Drowsiness
• Seizures
• Issues with walking
• Issues with memory

Due to the fact that it is very difficult to detect carbon monoxide and that it often presents symptoms similar to other conditions, such as the flu, people often do not realize they are being exposed. In too many cases, carbon monoxide poisoning is not discovered until it is too late.

California Law on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

In 2010, California legislators passed the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act. Under this law, all property owners must install carbon monoxide detectors in all dwellings, including homes, apartments, condominiums, and hotels that contain fuel-burning devices such as heaters, furnaces, or appliances or that have a garage attached to them. When property owners comply with this law, they can save lives. When they do not, they can be held liable for their negligent actions with the help of a carbon monoxide poisoning attorney in Merced.

Our Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawyer in Merced Can Help With Your Case

If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to carbon monoxide poisoning, do not take the next steps on your own. Our Merced carbon monoxide poisoning attorney at Brod Law Firm can guide you through the process, prove liability, and help you obtain the maximum settlement you are rightfully entitled to. Call us today at (800) 427-7020 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to get the legal help you need.

---