If you or someone you love was poisoned by carbon monoxide, you may still be recovering, frightened by how it happened, and unsure who is responsible. You do not have to work through it alone. Shakeshaft Law Firm represents people harmed by carbon monoxide poisoning throughout Colorado and takes the legal work off your shoulders so you can focus on your health.
Carbon monoxide can cause serious symptoms and injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and, in the worst cases, wrongful death. This page explains what you are facing and how a carbon monoxide poisoning attorney in Colorado can help.
When a Gas You Cannot See or Smell Makes You Sick
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so most people have no idea they are being exposed until they feel unwell. By then you may be in an emergency room, and the questions begin: what happened, and who is responsible?
The Symptoms Look Like the Flu
Headache, dizziness, weakness, an upset stomach, and confusion are the most common signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, and the CDC notes that they are often described as flu-like. That overlap can make the cause easy to miss, for you and sometimes for the people treating you.
The Effects Can Last or Appear Later
According to the Mayo Clinic, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain damage that does not heal and damage to the heart. Symptoms such as memory loss, personality changes, and movement problems can also show up after you have recovered from the exposure itself.
Working Out Who Is Responsible
A property owner, landlord, appliance manufacturer, contractor, or maintenance provider may be responsible, depending on what failed. Colorado law sets alarm requirements that can matter to a claim. Sellers of single-family homes with fuel-fired appliances, a fireplace, or an attached garage must make sure an operational carbon monoxide alarm is installed near the sleeping rooms under C.R.S. § 38-45-102. Owners of covered rental properties must keep, test, and maintain the alarms in good repair under C.R.S. § 38-45-104.
Medical Bills and Lost Income Add Up
Hospital care, follow-up treatment, and time away from work can pile up long before a claim is resolved, especially if the effects of the exposure are lasting.
Filing Deadlines Still Apply
Most injury lawsuits in Colorado must be filed within two years under C.R.S. § 13-80-102. The clock generally starts when you know, or should have known, both the injury and its cause under C.R.S. § 13-80-108. When an injury is slow to be diagnosed, that date can be hard to pin down, so it is worth asking about your deadline early.
You should not have to untangle all of this while you are getting well. That is the job of an attorney.
What a Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Attorney in Colorado Does for You
Shakeshaft Law Firm works to turn what happened to you into a strong, well-documented claim and to pursue the compensation your injuries warrant. You focus on your health. Shakeshaft Law Firm focuses on your recovery, including the financial recovery you need to move forward.
Finding the Source and Preserving the Evidence
Shakeshaft Law Firm investigates how the exposure happened, including the appliance, the ventilation, and any maintenance and alarm records, and identifies who is responsible. This evidence is easiest to preserve early, before repairs change the scene.
Connecting Your Illness to Carbon Monoxide
Because the symptoms can look like other illnesses, your medical records matter. Shakeshaft Law Firm works to collect the records that link your symptoms, and any lasting effects, to the exposure.
Proving the Full Cost of Your Injury
A strong claim reflects more than the bills you have received so far. Losses that can be part of a claim include medical bills and ongoing treatment, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and emotional distress, permanent impairment, and, when a loved one has died, wrongful death losses.
Negotiating Toward a Fair Settlement
Shakeshaft Law Firm handles the communication with the insurers for you and presents your claim with the evidence behind it. A quick, low offer does not have to be the end of the story.
Ready to Go to Court When Needed
If an insurer will not make a fair offer, Shakeshaft Law Firm is prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to court.
The goal at every step is the same: a recovery that lets you pay your bills, get the care you need, and move forward.
How Your Case Works With Shakeshaft Law Firm, Step by Step
Knowing what comes next can take some of the stress out of the process. Here is the general path of a carbon monoxide poisoning claim:
- A free consultation. You describe what happened. Shakeshaft Law Firm asks about your symptoms, your treatment, and where the exposure took place, and you learn your options, including the filing deadline that applies to you.
- Investigation. Shakeshaft Law Firm looks into the source of the carbon monoxide and who is responsible.
- Treatment and documentation. You focus on your medical care while Kenneth Shakeshaft and his team build the record of your injuries and losses.
- Settlement talks. Shakeshaft Law Firm presents your claim to the insurance company and negotiates on your behalf.
- A lawsuit, if one is needed. If a fair settlement is not offered, Shakeshaft Law Firm can take your case to court.
Every case is different, and some move faster than others. Your attorney can tell you what to expect for your situation.
Why Colorado Clients Choose Shakeshaft Law Firm
Choosing a carbon monoxide poisoning attorney in Colorado never comes at an easy time. Here is what you can expect when you hire Shakeshaft Law Firm.
Advocating for Injured Coloradans for 44 Years
Kenneth J. Shakeshaft has represented injured people in Colorado Springs for 44 years, including people with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and back and neck injuries. Shakeshaft Law Firm handles carbon monoxide poisoning cases throughout the state.
You Work Directly With Your Attorney
You work directly with Kenneth Shakeshaft and his team, including paralegal Cindy Maddox, rather than being passed between staff members. When you have a question, you know who is handling your case.
Clear Communication From Start to Finish
When you are hurt and worried, not knowing what is happening in your case adds stress you do not need. Shakeshaft Law Firm makes clear, consistent communication a priority from your first call to the end of your case. You will know where your claim stands, what happens next, and why, and you can ask questions at any point. Reviews of Shakeshaft Law Firm frequently mention clear communication and being kept informed. You can read them on the reviews page.
Representing People Across Colorado
From its office at 627 North Weber Street, Suite 1, in downtown Colorado Springs, Shakeshaft Law Firm represents people throughout Colorado, including the Denver metro area, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Fort Collins, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and Grand Junction. Call 719-635-5886 to schedule your free consultation.
A Free First Conversation
You can talk through what happened at no cost and learn where you stand before deciding anything. Shakeshaft Law Firm offers a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Claims in Colorado
What should I do if I think I have carbon monoxide poisoning?
Get everyone out into fresh air and call 911. Seek medical care even if your symptoms seem to fade, because the effects of carbon monoxide can be serious. Do not use the suspected source again. Afterward, write down what happened, keep your medical records, and talk with an attorney before the source is repaired or replaced so its condition can be documented.
Do landlords have to install carbon monoxide alarms in Colorado?
Under C.R.S. § 38-45-104, the owner of a covered rental property with fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage must keep, test, and maintain its carbon monoxide alarms in good repair, and must replace any alarm that is missing or not working before a new tenant moves in. An attorney can tell you how those requirements apply to your situation.
How long do I have to file a carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit in Colorado?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years under C.R.S. § 13-80-102, and wrongful death lawsuits generally have two years as well. The clock generally starts when you know, or should have known, both the injury and its cause. Because carbon monoxide injuries can be slow to diagnose, ask an attorney early about your deadline.
Who can be held responsible for carbon monoxide poisoning?
It depends on what failed. Responsible parties can include property owners, landlords, appliance manufacturers, contractors, and maintenance providers. Investigating the source of the exposure is how an attorney works out who is responsible.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. Shakeshaft Law Firm offers a free consultation. Call 719-635-5886 or request one online.
Talk With a Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Attorney in Colorado
You do not need to have everything figured out before you reach out. If you or a family member was harmed by carbon monoxide poisoning, Shakeshaft Law Firm can review what happened and explain your options. Call 719-635-5886 or schedule a free consultation. The office is at 627 North Weber Street, Suite 1, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
This page provides general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its own facts, and deadlines can vary. Please speak with a licensed Colorado attorney about your situation.
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