Carbon Monoxide Injuries

Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that is difficult to detect, and when people are exposed to significant amounts of it, carbon monoxide injuries. If you or a loved one were exposed to carbon monoxide on another person’s property and subsequently suffered injuries, it is in your best interest to speak to an attorney to discuss what compensation you may be able to recover. The skillful Cape Cod premises liability lawyers of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, possess the knowledge and experience needed to help you fight to protect your interests, and we can develop a strategy to help you pursue the maximum amount of damages recoverable under the law. We collectively have more than one hundred and fifty years of experience advocating on behalf of injured parties in the Massachusetts courts, and our zealous representation has led to the recovery of numerous multi-million dollar damages awards for our clients.

Carbon monoxide is typically produced by machines and engines that burn fuel. For example, cars, grills, gas ovens, fireplaces, and furnaces often produce carbon monoxide. Thus, if a property or a fireplace is not properly ventilated, or there is a leak in an oven or furnace, it can lead to carbon monoxide being disbursed into the surrounding air. As carbon monoxide is colorless, scentless, and tasteless, it is undetectable without a special device and can rapidly fill a room or home. When carbon monoxide is introduced into a person’s system, it combines with hemoglobin in the blood, which ultimately renders the hemoglobin ineffective at delivering oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues. When too much of a person’s blood is affected, it can lead to headaches, nausea, and vomiting and may eventually cause seizures, coma, and death.

Typically, carbon monoxide leaks are caused by faulty repairs or appliances. They can also be caused by the failure to properly maintain or clean a fireplace or gas burning device. Regardless of the exact source of the carbon monoxide, a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning may be able to recover damages if the exposure occurred on another person’s property.

In Massachusetts, property owners have an obligation under the law to protect people that legally enter their premises from harm, which includes maintaining the property in a reasonably safe condition and mitigating any known risks of harm. Thus, if a person is injured on another person’s property, the injured person may be able to recover damages by demonstrating the property owner allowed a dangerous condition to exist or negligently failed to maintain the premises, which ultimately led to the plaintiff’s harm. Usually, this requires the injured person prove that the property owner knew or should have known of the dangerous condition. For example, if a tenant suffered carbon monoxide injuries due to a landlord’s failure to clean a fireplace in a rental property, the tenant must show that the property owner was aware of the risks of harm caused by his or her failure to perform the maintenance needed to make the property safe.

A plaintiff that successfully demonstrates liability in a civil lawsuit may generally be awarded compensation for the economic and non-economic harm caused by the defendant’s acts. Economic harm usually includes the cost of any medical treatment that the plaintiff needed for the injuries sustained as well as treatment that may be needed in the future. Likewise, lost wages the plaintiff suffered due to an inability to work because of his or her injuries and out of pocket expenses fall under the umbrella of economic harm. Non-economic harm typically includes the pain, suffering, and mental distress a plaintiff endured because of the injuries the defendant caused. In cases in which the plaintiff was married at the time of the injuries, the plaintiff’s spouse may also be awarded damages.

Carbon monoxide exposure can lead to critical and permanent injuries, and in many cases, can be fatal. If you or someone you loved suffered from these injuries, it is advisable to speak to a lawyer to discuss your potential claims. We at at The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, can develop persuasive arguments on your behalf to help you seek the best legal result available under the facts of your case. Our assertive advocacy has allowed us to maintain a record of favorable outcomes, including many verdicts that exceed one million dollars. We represent injured people in the pursuit of damages in lawsuits on Cape Cod, and we are available for consultations in Plymouth and Hyannis. We can be reached at 888-262-6664 or through the form online to set up a meeting. Nós Falamos Português.