The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton proudly serve the people of Provo, offering legal assistance to people who have been seriously injured as a result of another person’s negligence.
This doesn’t just mean car accidents. We have helped numerous injury victims with premises liability lawsuits for slips, falls, and other injuries. One of the less considered but remarkably dangerous kinds of mishaps that may occur at a premises involves air quality, specifically carbon monoxide poisoning.
About Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas that can have adverse effects on the health and wellness of people and animals. Some common sources of carbon monoxide gas include engines, furnaces and water heaters that run on natural gas, kerosene space heaters, open fires, and live coals.
The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
When there is carbon monoxide in a person’s system, it attached to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, which makes it difficult for the blood cells to properly carry oxygen, which is an essential function of the blood cells. When there is too much carbon monoxide in the blood, vital organ will not receive the oxygen they need to function properly. The results may prove fatal.
It’s estimated that there are 15,000 carbon monoxide-related hospital visits every year, and that 500 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning prove fatal annually.
Taking Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Seriously
Carbon monoxide can be quite severe, and could require the mass evacuation of a building. Once when there was a carbon monoxide scare in a Utah dorm some time between 1999 and 2004, the 1200 residents of the dorm had to be evacuated. Of that number, 29 people were hospitalized for headaches and nausea.
The sure warning signs are headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and chest pain. In some serious cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, a person may faint or fall unconscious.
An Obligation By Landlords and Business Owners
It’s of the utmost importance that people who own a business or an apartment building keep their customers and visitors safe. This means paying careful attention to carbon monoxide levels and general air quality at a given building/location. If carbon monoxide alarms go off or there are issues with overall air quality, it is imperative that these matters be addressed sooner rather than later. This caution is preferable to putting countless lives in danger.
What to Do If You Are a Victim of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
If you or someone you care about is the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning and it was the result of a negligent property owner, it’s a good idea to meet with a skilled premises liability attorney to learn more about your legal options.
A premises liability lawyer will help determine if you have a legitimate case to pursue against a negligent property owner and hold that negligent individual accountable for their failure to maintain a safe environment for guests and inhabitants. We will fight ti secure damages to cover medical bills, lost wages, and other losses sustained as a result of the carbon monoxide accident.
Speak with the Lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton
For more information about your legal rights following an instance of carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s important that you contact our personal injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton will help you in your time of legal need.