San Jose Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Attorneys

Poor manufacturing or design can result in defects which cause carbon monoxide to leak from gas appliances and other products. The negligent manufacturing or design of these products may result in illness or death, depending on the level of leakage.

Additionally, it is possible for an appliance technician to fail to identify a potential problem or fail to repair a carbon monoxide leak, resulting in a dangerous condition. In either of these cases, the negligent party may be held liable in civil court.

Gas appliance manufacturers, maintenance technicians, and property owners all have a duty to ensure the safety of their products or premises, and to perform competent investigations and necessary repairs. Should any of these parties be negligent in their duty, they could expose innocent people to a deadly gas.

Determining fault in a carbon monoxide poisoning case is no easy task. You want to hold the at-fault party responsible for the losses you have suffered, but proving they were at-fault is complicated. This is why you should hire an experienced lawyer.

Yes. All landlords must have carbon monoxide detectors installed in their dwelling units, and the devices must be operable when tenants take residence.

However, tenants are responsible for notifying their landlords whenever they become aware of an inoperable or dysfunctional carbon monoxide detector. If a landlord does not fix a broken CO device upon request, they are in violation of the law.

If you haven’t already, you should install a carbon monoxide detector in your house. It is a device that notifies you of the presence of carbon monoxide in the air with a distinct audible alarm. Not only can this device potentially save your life, but it is also required by law to be installed in every dwelling unit intended for human occupancy that includes a fossil fuel burning appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage.

This includes single-family homes, duplexes, lodging houses, dormitories, hotels and motels, condos, time-share projects, and multiple-unit dwelling buildings.

Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of the flu.

So how can a person protect themselves from something they don’t even know is there? Taking the necessary precautions in your own home is one thing, but how can you predict being exposed to carbon monoxide on another’s property? Or how do you know that gas appliance you just bought doesn’t have a dangerous defect?

The unfortunate answer is you don’t.

Not knowing about the levels of carbon monoxide does not mean you are powerless. By understanding the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, you can identify dangerous situations and remove yourself from them; and if your health was jeopardized by the negligence of another, you have the right to take action.

If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, and there seems to be no reasonable explanation behind them, trust your instincts and go to the hospital:

Individuals who are burdened with heart disease or other health conditions are usually the first to exhibit symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. The elderly and young children are also more prone to early manifestation of CO poisoning.