Austin Carbon Monoxide Safety Guide: Prevention, Laws & When to Contact an Attorney

When you rent a house or apartment in Austin, Texas, you assume the property owner has taken all the necessary steps to keep you safe in the home. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case, and many Austin buildings may harbor hidden dangers that can harm residents. Carbon monoxide is a potentially deadly hazard that can build up in buildings without warning. Because it is colorless and odorless, the city has implemented safety measures to reduce the risk of exposure and to hold negligent parties accountable when harm occurs.

If you were recently injured because your landlord failed to follow the city’s carbon monoxide laws, the Austin carbon monoxide lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help. Our law firm will hold these parties liable for a victim’s injuries and related losses. Our expert team is available 24/7 to schedule your free case review in English or Spanish. Call us toll-free today at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online to learn more.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning sends more than 100,000 Americans to emergency rooms, and takes the lives of over 400 every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because the gas is nearly impossible to detect, people can become extremely ill without realizing they are exposed.

Carbon monoxide may be emitted from vehicles, generators, or fuel-burning appliances. When it’s released into an enclosed space, the gas can build to dangerous levels quickly. People who are sleeping or under the influence of substances are particularly vulnerable to serious injury or death.

At Carabin Shaw, our lawyers have seen injuries from carbon monoxide exposure that range from respiratory issues to permanent brain damage. Tragically, survivors may also seek Austin CO poisoning legal help when they lose a loved one to carbon monoxide poisoning.

In 2018, Austin established building codes requiring property owners to install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors. In dwelling units, detectors are required outside each sleeping area and inside each sleeping area where a fuel-burning appliance is located. The detector must receive its primary power from a commercial source and include a battery backup if power is interrupted.

Austin renters have the right to live in safe premises free from hazards. If you suffer carbon monoxide poisoning through no fault of your own, you may hire an attorney to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. Under Texas’s premises liability laws, you must show the property owner or landlord was negligent in some way and that negligence led directly to your CO exposure and injuries.

Negligence means the responsible party failed to act with a duty of care that another reasonable person would have done in the same situation. In many cases, it means the landlord or property owner failed to:

• Install carbon monoxide detectors according to city code
• Maintain those detectors to ensure they are operational
• Inspect or maintain carbon monoxide-emitting appliances
• Keep ventilation clean and unobstructed

Your attorney will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine whether any of these failures occurred. If so, you can seek damages from the responsible party, including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement or disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If you are injured by circumstances beyond your control, call the skilled Texas lawyers at Carabin Shaw today. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing up front and owe no fees unless we win. You are welcome to peruse our law firm’s client reviews to see how we’ve helped other accident victims like you receive fair compensation.

We are available now at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online.

For more information:

• CDC
• Austin Texas Gov
• LIMITATION OF LANDOWNERS' LIABILITY