Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Odessa TX Apartments: When Property Owners Are Liable

Victims of carbon monoxide (CO) leaks generally don’t realize they’re inhaling poisonous gas until they become symptomatic. A headache or dizziness may cue them in to the exposure, or they may succumb to it and die. Property owners in Odessa, TX, have a general duty to maintain safe premises, and when they fail to keep living spaces CO-free, victims of CO poisoning can hire a local lawyer and sue for damages.

If your apartment has had a CO leak that caused you injuries, the Odessa TX injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-862-1260, or contact us online to schedule a free case review. Someone is available to speak with you 24/7, and we have English- and Spanish-speaking staff.

Each year, over 400 people die from accidental CO poisoning in the U.S. While Texas Gas Service is the primary provider of gas utilities in Odessa, Texas, many gas leaks happen in apartments because people use their outdoor gas appliances inside. If a CO leak is related to gas utilities, the property owner may be responsible for injuries or deaths that occur because of their negligence.

In many cases of Odessa carbon monoxide poisoning, CO alarms or detectors could have prevented the accident. It is not a state or federal requirement that apartment owners install CO detectors in their apartment dwellings. However, federal regulations require property owners to install them if they receive rent from certain federal housing programs, such as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Failing to install or maintain working CO alarms could make a property owner liable for tenants' CO poisoning. An Odessa apartment injury lawyer would consider how the accident occurred and who could have prevented it prior to filing an injury claim.

According to Texas Property Code §92.052, a landlord must attempt to repair or fix property conditions that affect a tenant's physical health and safety. This would include repairing and maintaining permanent gas appliances, gas lines, and shut-off valves. If they don’t do this and CO gas poisons their tenants, victims can hire a lawyer and sue for damages.

Some CO accidents aren’t the fault of an apartment owner. For example, a property owner has no way of knowing if a tenant chooses to use an outdoor cook stove inside. In these types of cases, a lawyer may claim that liability falls on the property owner only if they knew or should have known about the hazard and chose to ignore it.

You may be wondering, “Can I sue my landlord for carbon monoxide poisoning in Texas?” That is why it is important to sit down with a lawyer and discuss your case. Read our law firm’s client reviews to find out more about how we’ve helped accident victims get fair settlements.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause a wide array of damages, and your carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer in Odessa will help you calculate:

• Medical expenses from emergency room visits, oxygen therapy, and other related care
• Loss of income due to medical incapacitation
• Physical pain and suffering from CO poisoning injuries, such as headaches
• Mental anguish from dealing with injuries and fear of death

Each case is different, and unfortunately, CO leaks can quickly become deadly. In the case of a fatal CO poisoning, an attorney can help the surviving spouse, parents, or children of the deceased victim file a wrongful death claim for their losses.

Victims of CO poisoning in Odessa, TX apartments should contact the personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw as soon as possible to understand their legal options and pursue the compensation they deserve. You pay nothing unless we win your case, so there is no upfront cost to schedule a free case review. If a property owner’s negligence contributed to a preventable CO leak, our top Texas attorneys can help you seek accountability and recover compensation for your damages.

For more information:

• CDC
• Housing Authority City of Odessa
• Texas Statutes 92