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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

If you or a member of your family is suffering an illness caused through exposure to carbon monoxide, it is possible that our specialist personal injury lawyers could help you to claim compensation.  Contact us today on 0800 032 8511 for claim advice, or by completing a claim enquiry form.

Carbon Monoxide
Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Warning Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Is it Possible to Make a Claim for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Compensation
Specialist Claim Advice

Carbon Monoxide

A common gas that most of us will have heard of, carbon monoxide is poisonous and can cause serious health effects and even death, dependent upon the concentration of the dosage.  What makes carbon monoxide particularly dangerous is that it is undetectable by sight, taste or smell, so often a person is unaware that they are being exposed to it.

Carbon monoxide is formed when certain materials are burnt and during many industrial and chemical processes.  This means that it can be present in the workplace and at home.

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Effects of Carbon Monoxide

There are several situations that could put a person at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.  Some of the most common are incorrectly fitted or maintained boilers and heaters, working in garages or working with gas.

At lower levels, continued exposure to carbon monoxide can cause headaches, nausea and other similar symptoms.  These can persist and over time become worse, causing fatigue, dizziness, disruption of concentration and long term health issues.  At higher levels, blurred vision, seizures, co-ordination problems, unconsciousness and death can occur.

Symptoms may begin within days of exposure to carbon monoxide or could take weeks or months to develop.

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Warning Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Unfortunately, as the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be similar to other illnesses, sufferers often do not realise the cause of their problems straight away. 

Some common signs that you may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning are:

• If the symptoms are seasonal, becoming worse in the winter months (when heating appliances are used more)
• Other people in your home / building / workplace are suffering similar problems
• The symptoms subside when you are away from your home or workplace (i.e. the source of the carbon monoxide) for any period of time

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Is it Possible to Make a Claim for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

If you have been exposed to a level of carbon monoxide high enough to affect your health through the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim.

Employers are subject to regulations such as the COSHH Regulations (or Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988), which are in place to protect employees.  Equally there are regulations governing the maintenance, repair and installation of boilers and other appliances, so if a faulty or poorly managed heating system has caused your injury through someone else’s negligence, this could also give rise to a valid compensation claim.

In every case, medical evidence will be required.  Detailed expert evidence is often also required in disease cases to show that the condition suffered by a claimant was caused by exposure to a particular substance.

In any personal injury claim it is necessary to show that the person you are making a claim against owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care (were negligent), and that the injury you sustained was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence.

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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Compensation

There are two elements to a compensation award.  The first is for the pain and suffering you may have gone through and what is known as loss of amenity.  This is called general damages and can include an award for your inability to do things that you used to be able to do before (eg wash your car, play sports, walk the dog etc).  The award for loss of amenity can be for a short period after an incident or for ever if that is what the medical evidence supports.

The second element of a compensation award is for your losses and expenses and is known as special damages.  It is important to keep receipts for any expenditure you have related to the incident, so that these can be reclaimed.  The aim is to put you back in a position financially as if the carbon monoxide poisoning had never occurred.

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Specialist Claim Advice

The Legal Line Lawyers are specialists in industrial disease and personal injury cases, so are well equipped to assist you.  If you believe that you or your family may be entitled to compensation, we can provide expert claim advice on the most appropriate way to handle your case.

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