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If you or someone you love has suffered carbon monoxide poisoning, then you know the hazards it poses. This gas is invisible, odorless, and present wherever carbon-based fuels are burned — and it is incredibly dangerous. Unfortunately, carbon monoxide poisoning occurs suddenly, and the effects are often devastating.
Gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, charcoal, and even wood fires all release carbon monoxide (or CO). Once in the air, it gives no warning, and only a small amount is necessary to cause permanent, life-altering damage or death. Wherever people are performing ordinary activities like cooking, driving, bathing, or keeping warm, a small malfunction or inadequate ventilation can have immediate and tragic results. Sadly, incidences of carbon monoxide poisoning are not uncommon.
If the carbon monoxide to which you or your loved one was exposed was released due to the negligence of another organization or individual, you might be eligible for compensation. The carbon monoxide poisoning attorney at The Stoddard Firm can review the circumstances surrounding your incident and let you know if you have a viable case. Reach out to us today at 470-467-2200 to schedule a no-cost consultation.
The injuries resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning and their associated costs can impact how you live your life and what your financial future will be. Selecting the best firm with which to work is an important decision.
You want to engage professionals committed to helping you, who have exceptional experience and an approach geared to your needs. The Stoddard Firm’s carbon monoxide lawyer, Matt Stoddard, founded our firm, leads our injury and premises liability practices and developed our hands-on approach.
Our Firm is:
The Stoddard Firm is the best firm for you. We adopt your goals as our own and put all of the resources of our firm to work to help win your case.
As a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning, there is no doubt that your life is difficult.
Accidents happen, but if your event was the result of the negligent actions or inactions of another, you may be entitled to compensation.
The road to a settlement can be long, winding and complicated. Combine the stress of navigating the legal process with the exhaustion of recovering from your experience and there is no doubt that you need help.
This is where we add value. Our team will manage your carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit from start to finish. We are ready to begin work for you immediately. We will:
We do it all so you can focus your energy and efforts on your recovery. We encourage our prospective clients to reach out to us as soon as possible. It is easier to uncover evidence and find witnesses when we can get to work quickly after your accident. Time is an important commodity that we aim to leverage on your behalf. Contact us today at 470-467-2200 to schedule a free consultation.
Chances are that you have at least a few CO sources in or near your apartment or home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies some of the most common poisoning culprits as:
During day-to-day life, you probably only think about whether or not these items are working. If the heat, gas, electricity, or hot water suddenly dies on you, fixing them might be a matter of a simple phone call. Depending on how responsive your landlord is, It might also turn into a drawn-out battle, but at least you know there’s a problem to be fixed.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
Part of what makes carbon monoxide poisoning so dangerous is how easily its early symptoms can be mistaken for something else, like the flu. The CDC recognizes those most vulnerable to CO poisoning are infants, the elderly, and people suffering from anemia, chronic heart disease, or respiratory problems. However, even the healthiest adult can quickly build up a fatal dose in an enclosed space.
People who are asleep when a leak starts often die without being wakened by symptoms.
For survivors of acute or even moderate carbon monoxide poisoning, long-term neurological complications are common and include:
If exposure occurs during pregnancy, the fetus also has an elevated risk of death or cerebral palsy — a permanent neurological condition that can greatly impact quality of life. The medical costs associated with all of these issues are significant and life changing.
As documented by the National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL), as of 2018 37 states require all residential buildings with attached garages or fossil fuel-burning appliances to be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm in each living space. And, as of 2019, carbon monoxide detectors are also required in hotels and motels in 14 states.
Suppose you live in a state where alarms are required. In that case your landlord is legally obligated to provide an approved CO detector, as well as regular inspections to ensure it is functioning properly.
Even if your state does not require property owners to install and maintain CO detectors, your landlord is still responsible for providing habitable conditions to all tenants. This includes providing you with essentials like heat, hot water, and cooking facilities, and ensuring that these systems remain in good, safe, working order. Allowing a CO poisoning to occur is a serious failure in this duty.
For apartment dwellers and frequent travelers, the danger is even harder to avoid. Instead of scheduling your own repairs and inspections, you’re dependent on the owner of your apartment building or the hotels you visit to make sure these crucial tasks are done.
It may seem like a small comfort when you’re faced with the catastrophic aftermath of CO poisoning, but you should know that the law is on your side, and so are the passionate professionals at The Stoddard Firm.
Suppose you believe that you or your loved ones have been exposed to dangerous carbon monoxide levels. In that case, the first step is to reach a well-ventilated area and seek immediate medical attention. It’s important to realize, however, that just because you’ve left the contaminated area doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of the woods.
It may take days or even years to determine what the long-term effects on your family will be.
Addressing a carbon monoxide issue immediately is critical. The only real way to stay safe from carbon monoxide poisoning is through regular, preventative maintenance of all fuel-burning appliances, ventilation systems, and carbon monoxide alarms. Unfortunately, this means that whether your landlord is on top of things has a huge impact on your safety.
If any of your appliances begin leaking carbon monoxide or if vents become blocked, you may not know there’s an issue until it’s too late. Being forced to improvise your own alternatives due to delayed repairs, such as bringing in outside heating devices, can also put you at increased risk of poisoning.
The consequences of a single poisoning incident may be with you for the rest of your life, or the rest of your children’s lives. There may be a need for costly ongoing medical care. Survivors may encounter limited career options, or even a loss of independence.
Nothing can erase the damage that carbon monoxide poisoning causes; but if you or your loved ones have been exposed due to landlord negligence or product malfunction, you have the right to compensation. More importantly, you deserve support that won’t run out just as you’re beginning to realize the scope of the help you need. Turn to a skilled, compassionate Georgia premises liability attorney for help.
At the Stoddard Firm, we have the knowledge and experience to make sure you and your loved ones are properly looked after. Give call us at 470-467-2200 for a free consultation on your unique situation and what we can do to help.
A dedicated, ethical advocate who takes on major corporations and global insurers with virtually unlimited resources. Known for high-profile cases featured on Courtroom Viewing Network, this attorney is also a sought-after legal educator, teaching at seminars for top bar associations. Trusted by clients and media alike, they work tirelessly to secure justice and deliver results.
Member of the Atlanta Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association, and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
Licensed in Georgia since: 2008
Education: University of Georgia School of Law
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Managing the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning and embarking on a lawsuit simultaneously is a lot to handle. Those who find themselves in this position have a host of questions, many of which are similar from case to case. We have shared these below, as well as our carbon monoxide attorney’s responses.
The exact damages will depend upon the circumstances of your case. In Georgia, victims of carbon monoxide poisoning may be awarded economic damages (for medical expenses and lost wages) and non-economic damages (for pain and suffering and emotional trauma). And, in rare cases punitive damages may also be levied.
Yes, in most instances the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the incident.
Special circumstances can shorten the two-year time frame to as little as six months or lengthen the time frame long past the standard two-year period. An accident victim must file the lawsuit and serve the defendant within this statute of limitations to preserve the right of compensation. Missing the deadline can result in losing the ability to recover damages no matter how strong the case may be. We can help determine whether an exception to the two year general limit applies to your case.
Contact our carbon monoxide poisoning attorney as quickly as possible to begin to work on your case.
Depending upon the circumstances, you would file either a premises liability case or a personal injury case (under product liability laws). Those responsible could be your landlord, a hotel, the product manufacturer or the individual who installed the product if it was done incorrectly. Your carbon monoxide attorney can counsel you regarding your best options.
As your attorney, we would need to prove that negligent actions or inactions were responsible for your carbon monoxide poisoning. According to Georgia Code § 51-3-1 , property owners are responsible for the safety of visitors.
Engaging an experienced and reputable carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer in Atlanta is in your best interests. Premises and product liability laws are complex, and the legal process has numerous requirements that must be met. A seasoned professional can help you navigate the process and maximize your settlement.
We hope the above information sheds some light on carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuits. That said, it is likely you have many more questions about your own situation. We encourage you to reach out to our team of professionals at 470-467-2200 and schedule a free consultation.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was revised and approved by Attorney Matthew B. Stoddard, who has more than 16 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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