Carbon monoxide, or "CO", gas is a silent, invisible and odorless killer. It is completely imperceptible by human senses, requiring special care when around devices known to emit it, such as motor vehicles, heaters, and kitchen stoves. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to permanent, life threatening, and life-ending brain injuries; people who suffer carbon monoxide poisoning often are not even aware of the slow buildup of gases in their homes, their cars, or their places of employment. Many carbon monoxide poison victims report feeling nauseous, experiencing headaches, and unable to get their bearings.

Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas produced any time a carbon-based fuel, such as gasoline, propane, charcoal or oil burns. Sources include gasoline engines and generators, boilers, cooking ranges, space heaters and water heaters. Cold and poorly tuned combustion engines produce more carbon monoxide than warm, properly tuned engines. Even charcoal grills emit poisonous carbon monoxide gas. Thus, if any of these engines or devices are left running or burning in confined spaces -- without proper ventilation to the "outside," the concentration of carbon monoxide can reach lethal levels.

In one recent case, Mr. Watkin represented the parents of a woman who died in a Kingman motel room while taking a bath, and her boyfriend, who survived. The motel's boiler, was spewing out deadly carbon monoxide gas in the boiler room directly below the couple's room. The CO gas rose up from the boiler, then through various holes cut in the ceiling for water and ventilation piping, and directly through the floor beneath the bathtub, killing the woman (she actually drowned in the tub). Meanwhile, her boyfriend was out in the other room of the suite watching TV. He was found the next day unconscious on the couch, partially paralyzed, permanently brain damaged, but fortunately alive. Ultimately, the motel owner and various contractors involved in the construction of the boiler room and the installation or maintenance of the boiler settled these claims for several million dollars.

Anoxic Brain Injury Attorneys, Hypoxic Brain Injury Lawyers

We represent victims of carbon monoxide poisoning who have sustained hypoxic and anoxic brain injuries through exposure to this deadly gas. If not properly vented and detected, victims can be overcome with poisonous carbon monoxide fumes, rendering the victims unconscious. Depending on the duration of their exposure to the poisonous and potentially carbon monoxide fumes, victims may suffer brain damage, Hypoxic and Anoxic Brain Injury, paralysis, and even death. Combustion engines used to power boats (inboard and outboard engines), cars, trucks, motorcycles, boilers, generators and even lawn mowers ALL produce carbon monoxide fumes. At its worst, carbon monoxide poisoning results in death by asphyxiation and permanent brain injuries, including anoxic and hypoxic injuries.

We represent victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, including the following situations:

• Residential gas line leaks
• Gas fired appliance defects
• LP and natural gas leaks
• Wood burning stoves
• Fireplace ventilation
• Heating system failures
• Furnace, stove, oven, boiler, heater malfunctions
• Workplace ventilation problems
• Incomplete combustion
• Campers, mobile homes, RVs, boats
• Camping heaters
• Power washers

Even very brief exposure to concentrated carbon monoxide gas can be deadly. It enters your blood stream through the lungs and displaces the oxygen your body needs. Many victims of carbon monoxide poisoning have died while boating. Carbon monoxide can collect inside a boat in a variety of ways. Exhaust leaks, the leading cause of death by carbon monoxide, can allow carbon monoxide to migrate throughout the boat and into enclosed areas. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning -- irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness and dizziness -- are often confused with seasickness.

Even properly vented exhaust can re-enter a boat if it's moored too close to a dock or another boat, or if the exhaust is pushed back by prevailing winds. Exhaust can also re-enter boats when cruising under certain conditions -- the station wagon effect -- especially with canvas in place. In fact swimmers playing, resting or working on their boats anywhere near the engines can be overcome by the fumes, usually losing consciousness, then sinking and drowning. Even if rescued before drowning, many still suffer permanent brain injuries.

Carbon monoxide death is the result of oxygen starvation and carbon monoxide replacing oxygen in the blood of the victim. The main signs of poisoning develop in the organ systems most dependent on oxygen use: the central nervous system and the heart. The clinical manifestations include tachycardia and hypertension, and central nervous system symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, convulsions, and unconsciousness. Carbon dioxide poisoning may also produce myocardial ischemia, atrial fibrillation, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, hyperglycemia, muscle necrosis, acute renal failure, skin lesions, visual and auditory problems, and respiratory arrest.

Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the US. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that carbon monoxide poisoning kills between 500 - 2000 people a year and causes over 15,000 visits to the emergency room every year.

Carbon monoxide gas has killed people in their homes, garages, RV's, motel and hotel rooms, trailers, camping tents and, as discussed above, boats. Once living spaces are infiltrated by the colorless, odorless, tasteless and deadly carbon monoxide gas, victims grow groggy and sleepy and often nauseated. The lucky ones escape the danger while they are still conscious; the unlucky ones drift off to sleep and often die unless the carbon monoxide source is stopped or the victims are rescued.

Mr. Watkin has represented clients exposed to the life-altering effects of carbon monoxide gas - "CO" - including wrongful death and personal injury claims.

IMPORTANT: If an insurance claims agent for the person at fault calls to "interview" you, decline -- at least until you have spoken with an attorney. Despite what the insurance agent might tell you, he is NOT "just trying to help."

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, contact us online or call at 480-281-3838 to arrange a consultation.

Clark Watkin of The Watkin Law Office, P.C. is a Phoenix bicycle accident lawyer and Phoenix motorcycle accident attorney who represents serious personal injury and wrongful death clients throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills and Paradise Valley.