Carbon monoxide is a silent and invisible killer. Each year in the United States, more than 400 people die and over 100,000 visit emergency rooms as a result of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. These accidents can occur for a number of reasons, but malfunctioning products are a common cause.
If you or a loved one has suffered a Gainesville carbon monoxide poisoning incident, turning to a Florida product liability lawyer can mean obtaining the compensation you deserve for your losses. At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we can help you understand and fight for your rights at every step. Contact our Gainesville law office or give us a call at (877) 255-3652 to schedule a free consultation to learn more today.
How Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help After An Accident In Gainesville, FL
Catastrophic injuries like carbon monoxide poisoning can leave you with significant medical bills. In instances when a loved one doesn’t survive, it can also lead to dealing with grief over a wrongful death as well as funeral expenses that you might not be able to cover. By hiring Gainesville product liability attorneys, though, you can fight for fair compensation.
At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, our team can assist you in the following key ways:
- Evaluate your claim
- Investigate the accident
- Gather evidence to prove the carbon monoxide poisoning
- Establish liability
- Negotiate with insurance companies for a settlement
- File a lawsuit if a settlement isn’t possible
We have decades of experience helping people throughout Florida receive the compensation they need after suffering injuries because of another party’s negligence. Our team is client-centered, so you can always count on receiving personalized support.
What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when this gas builds up in your blood. This can happen when there’s too much of the gas in the air, and as you breathe it in, it replaces the oxygen in your body. Depending on the severity of the poisoning, the victim can suffer serious tissue damage and, potentially, death.
One of the most serious challenges that this gas presents is that it’s odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It can quickly build up in enclosed spaces and lead to a number of symptoms, including:
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Loss of muscle control
- Loss of consciousness
Even after no longer being exposed to carbon monoxide, it’s possible to suffer symptoms connected to the nervous system, including memory loss and personality changes. People who are intoxicated or sleeping can be at the highest risk of dying from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Defective Products And Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A variety of fuel-burning products release carbon monoxide, as do engines. That’s why turning a car on in a closed garage is dangerous. Your water heater, as well as your coal, oil, gas, and wood-burning appliances, can all release this substance into the air.
If the appliances are faulty, then they might produce significant amounts of carbon monoxide, leading to serious injuries. In some instances, carbon monoxide detectors may not work as they need to, failing to alert you of the high levels of it.
If a defective product causes you to suffer carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s possible to hold the manufacturer liable. Product manufacturers have a responsibility toward their customers to produce reasonably safe products, so if they breach this duty of care, they can be held legally responsible.
Unlike other types of personal injury claims, you don’t have to demonstrate that negligence took place because the doctrine that applies to cases involving malfunctioning products is strict liability. This means that the defendant’s intent doesn’t matter.
Products can have a variety of defects. They can be defective from the design phase, meaning there is no safe manner in which they can be used, or something during the manufacturing process could have gone awry. In other instances, the product may not display enough warnings about potential dangers or may not provide information on how to use it safely.
All of these issues can result in serious injuries and, in the most severe cases, death.
Contact Our Gainesville, FL, Product Liability Lawyers For A Free Consultation
If you suffered carbon monoxide injuries as a result of a malfunctioning product, you may be entitled to file a claim against the manufacturer. This is not an easy suit to pursue, especially if the manufacturer is a large company. An entire legal team may be ready to try to disprove your claim.
To give yourself the best chance of recovering the losses you sustained, it’s vital to hire a seasoned Gainesville product liability lawyer. At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we have decades of experience advocating for residents of the Sunshine State who have suffered because of another party’s conduct.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Florida product liability lawyer who cares.
