Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawyer In San Jose
A significant number of professionals live in San Jose and the Silicon Valley because that is where they were able to secure great jobs. But for most, it was never about the desire to live near San Jose or even in California. They are there to work and earn a great living. But when a better opportunity arises, they will be off to the next town or community or even a huge city where they will command a large salary and continue to climb the ladder in the IT world or Corporate America. As a result, most of these people are happy to rent a house, room, condo, apartment, or even a loft or renovated garage that offers the basics and a decent place to sleep.
While rent in a thriving community is surely cheaper than the down payment, insurance, and all the other fees that come with owning a home, there are some drawbacks as well. As a renter in Fremont, Union City, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Milpitas, or Redwood City, you need to trust that the owner of the property will take care of the space and keep it hazard-free. You might be focused on the condition of the floors, plumbing, and air conditioner, and easily overlook one of the more crucial safety features that must be in every rental or dwelling in California. That small but life-saving device is a carbon monoxide monitor that will sound an alert if there is a leak of this colorless and odorless gas.
If you are renting a place in San Jose, Fremont, Union City, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Milpitas, or Redwood City and have recently suffered ill effects that you cannot explain, like trouble concentrating or ongoing headaches, please seek a complete medical evaluation or seek help at the nearest emergency room. It is very likely that you are suffering from exposure to carbon monoxide, and it could result in life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning. Chances are, you only feel these ill effects, like blurry vision, when you are at home in a space that does not have carbon monoxide detectors to alert you to this potentially deadly situation. Leave and do not return until you have gotten the medical care you need and the rental property has been inspected for a carbon monoxide leak or contamination.
If you have already been diagnosed with carbon monoxide exposure or carbon monoxide poisoning, please know that you do not have to fight this legal battle on your own. The exceptional team at Kenmore Law Group is ready to help. Our caring office staff can be reached around the clock to answer your questions about how the legal system can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve if you suffered harm because a property owner failed to comply with the legal requirement to provide and maintain carbon monoxide detectors in all dwellings.
In addition, during that first call, our staff will help you schedule your free consultation with a seasoned carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer in San Jose to evaluate your case. After sharing the facts of the case with your Kenmore Law Group personal injury lawyer, they will explain to you the legal merit of the case and whether you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit to hold the property owner accountable for their negligence that caused you harm. With this helpful information and legal guidance, you will be ready to make well-informed choices that will help meet your immediate and long-term needs.
But please also know that you are never obligated to pursue legal action, even after gaining all of this free information. And if you later decide to file a lawsuit, you are never obligated to hire Kenmore Law Group to handle the matter for you. Our only goal is to ensure that all personal injury victims like yourself have the information and resources to protect themselves from excessive medical expenses and other losses caused by another person’s negligence. But we do ask that you get in touch with our office team swiftly, as there is a time limit for you to take legal action.
Where Does Carbon Monoxide Come From?
As a colorless and odorless gas, it is impossible for a person to recognize when there is carbon monoxide in the air they are breathing. You cannot see or smell the gas. The only indications of carbon monoxide might be the physical reaction your body has to this toxic gas that displaces the oxygen in the air you are breathing to make you feel as if you are suffocating.
Carbon monoxide is a byproduct that is created when propane or natural gas is burned. This combustion process could be part of a furnace, water heater, or even a gas cooking appliance. But when these fuels are used to generate heat, there must be adequate ventilation and, typically, a pipe or chimney that vents the carbon monoxide outdoors. If that pipe or channel should leak or become damaged, allowing carbon monoxide to enter the dwelling, the consequences could be life-altering or even life-threatening. While this all sounds hard to imagine, it should be known that hundreds of people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, and thousands suffer life-altering injuries that create health issues for the rest of their lives. For those reasons, in 2011, the installation and maintenance of a carbon monoxide detector became a legal requirement for all dwellings. If your rental property does not have a functioning carbon monoxide detector and you suffered harm from a carbon monoxide exposure incident, please reach out to Kenmore Law Group immediately to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer.
What Are The Signs Of Carbon Monoxide Exposure?
Because most people are unaware of the risks of carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning, very few people understand the symptoms of this potentially grave illness and what to do when the signs of carbon monoxide exposure are present. The most noticeable indications of exposure to this toxic gas include:
- Suddenly suffering dizziness and weakness for no apparent reason
- Being confused or disoriented for no clear reason
- Suffering from blurred vision, vomiting, or nausea
- A dull headache along with confusion and trouble focusing or concentrating
- Difficulty breathing or the feeling that you are choking or suffocating
If you or a loved one or friend is suffering from any of these symptoms, leave the space immediately and go outside into the fresh air. Then seek medical care and report that you might have been exposed to carbon monoxide. Never return to the rental unit until it has been inspected by a professional to locate any carbon monoxide contamination.
What Are The After Effects Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
As you might have surmised, the impact of carbon monoxide poisoning can be severe or even deadly. Because the carbon monoxide is contaminating the air that you are breathing and displacing the oxygen that your body needs for life, you will begin to see the signs of oxygen deprivation, which can lead to severe harm that includes:
- Severe headaches that do not respond to pain medication
- Brain damage due to a lack of oxygen
- Permanent lung damage and breathing challenges can contribute to many other health issues and complications, resulting in a vastly decreased quality of life
- Untreatable nerve pain
- An altered personality that often includes frequent outbursts of anger and changes in the overall personality
- Psychosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Damage to the heart can create many circulatory issues and health challenges
It is also vital to understand that each person and their body will react differently to carbon monoxide exposure. The time it takes for each person to experience the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning will vary. Even people in the same dwelling can have different symptoms and reactions to the same exposure to this toxic gas. If you suffered exposure to carbon monoxide, please contact Kenmore Law Group today to discuss the case and your potential lawsuit to secure any compensation owed to you for harm caused by negligence.
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What Does Premises Liability Mean For Your Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawsuit?
Premises liability law was created to protect the safety of the general public when they are at a property owned by another person or business. The laws define the owner’s obligations regarding the care of the property and its safety for guests. In addition, the duty of care defines the expectations placed on the property owner or their staff when a safety hazard is discovered on the property, or when a guest reports one to staff.
Duty of care states that the staff must provide at least the same level of care to eliminate or repair the issue as would be provided by the average prudent person who is faced with the same or a similar issue. For example, if you see ice melting on the floor in your home, you immediately pick up the ice and mop up any puddle that forms as it melts to prevent anyone from slipping and falling. That is also what the average prudent person is likely to do and what is expected of the property owner if they encounter an issue.
In the case of a rental without a carbon monoxide detector, the owner is breaking the law and should be held accountable for risking the safety of anyone in the dwelling. The owner can also be to blame for your injuries due to carbon monoxide exposure if they failed to service the detector as recommended by the manufacturer, and then you suffered harm because the detector failed. When the responsible party fails to meet their legal obligations under premises liability, they are deemed negligent in their duty of care. In addition, if it is later found that the negligence caused or contributed to the victim’s harm, the property owner can be held financially accountable for the victim’s losses and expenses. Please contact Kenmore Law Group immediately if you feel the property owner was negligent, and that was a factor in your carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning.
What Is The Value Of My San Jose Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawsuit?
It is not uncommon for a carbon monoxide poisoning victim to think that there is a fast answer to what the value of their lawsuit will be. However, it is critical that all personal injury victims know that each lawsuit is evaluated independently, and that compensation is based on their actual losses and expenses. Working with your Kenmore Law Group San Jose carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer, you will gather all the documentation to verify your allowable expenses used in the valuation process of a lawsuit. The items that are most commonly used for this purpose include, but are not always strictly limited to:
- The cost of all legal services related to preparing, filing, and litigating your personal injury lawsuit
- The cost of all current and estimated future medical care related to the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries caused by the carbon monoxide exposure or poisoning
- Your lost income if you were unable to work at your regular job because of the harm caused by the carbon monoxide poisoning until you were fully healed and cleared by your medical care providers to return to your duties at work
What Is The Time Limit To File My Lawsuit For Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In San Jose?
As a personal injury victim, you have two years from the date of the incident or date of your diagnosis to file your lawsuit with the court. This time limit is strictly enforced, and once it has passed, you will no longer be permitted to pursue legal action related to this matter. Finally, there are limited exceptions that allow the victim to take legal action after the original time limit has passed. Please reach out to Kenmore Law Group today to discuss your case and the time remaining for you to seek any compensation that is owed to you via a personal injury lawsuit.
No Added Hardships From Upfront Legal Fees And Expenses
The team at Kenmore Law Group understands that after suffering harm because of negligence that caused you to be exposed to toxic carbon monoxide, you are likely struggling financially. But that should never limit your ability to pursue legal action and justice. To ensure you have the ability to take legal action in a personal injury case, regardless of your ability to pay upfront legal fees, Kenmore Law Group will take on any case with legal merit and never ask for any out-of-pocket payments. Instead, the firm is only paid after the matter is resolved, and you receive compensation that includes funds to cover your legal costs and other fees. Please get in touch with our staff today to learn more.
