The representation of victims of carbon monoxide poisoning presents numerous challenges for the attorney undertaking such a case. Carbon monoxide is the most common source of accidental poisoning in the United States with an estimated 500 deaths per year and 50,000 hospital visits occasioned by exposure to the gas. As chronic carbon monoxide poisoning is frequently misdiagnosed, the number of sub-lethal poisonings each year is likely much higher.
Carbon monoxide is caused by the incomplete combustion of any fossil fuel including natural gas, propane, oil, coal, kerosene, gasoline, wood and other flammables. As a rule of thumb, complete combustion of natural gas requires 10 cubic feet of combustion air for every cubic foot of gas burned in order to facilitate a clean burn producing carbon dioxide, and water in the exhaust gas. Inadequate amounts of available oxygen for combustion will cause the production of carbon monoxide rather than carbon dioxide. Carbon monoxide is potentially deadly and may cause a myriad of symptoms from exposures less than those necessary to cause death.
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