Investigation Underway After 8 People Injured in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Accident in Medina Apartment
MEDINA, NEW YORK (December 19, 2024) – At least 8 people were injured at a Medina apartment building after some type of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Orleans County officials are saying that the incident took place around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. Firefighters were called to the apartment.
They encountered a teen who was conscious but had symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning. Seven other people were taken to the hospital.
A full investigation into the cause of the poisoning remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Accidents
Carbon monoxide (CO) incidents lead to many serious injuries and deaths each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.” There are a number of potential symptoms associated with CO poisoning.
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Chest pain
Apartment owners have a legal obligation to protect residents from foreseeable sources of harm, including CO poisoning. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition on their property, they must take action. Failing to take action to protect against a dangerous condition could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of measures that apartment owners should take to prevent CO poisoning accidents.
- Apartment owners should ensure that heating systems are properly maintained.
- Apartment owners should install CO detectors in every unit.
- Apartment owners should ensure that the building has proper ventilation, especially in the boiler room.
CO poisoning can lead to very serious injuries. In severe cases, people may sustain permanent brain or lung injuries. Of course, people can also die from prolonged exposure. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have rights. Any person who is harmed from CO poisoning may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Medina CO accident. Anyone who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a CO poisoning accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the support and justice that they need. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
