If you've suffered carbon monoxide poisoning due to the negligence of a business, landlord or employer, you could be entitled to claim compensation.
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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Claims
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly dangerous gas released when fuels such as wood, coal, gas or oil burn. If you were negligently exposed to CO and suffered harm, you may be eligible to make a carbon monoxide poisoning claim.
CO poisoning can happen at home, at work, in hospitals and in public places. Early symptoms mimic those of the flu, while prolonged exposure can lead to confusion, fast heart rate, seizures, hallucinations and even death.
If your carbon monoxide poisoning was caused by negligence from an employer, landlord or the local council, you could claim compensation for your pain, suffering and financial losses.
To find out if you can make a claim for carbon monoxide poisoning, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 470 0472 to speak to a legal adviser.
Key points about carbon monoxide poisoning claims
- Eligibility: You may be able to claim if you were harmed due to carbon monoxide exposure caused by someone else’s negligence.
- Landlord and Employer Duties: Property owners and employers are required to take reasonable steps to ensure appliances are maintained and appropriate safety checks are carried out.
- Time Limit: You generally have 3 years from the date of the incident or diagnosis to make a claim.
- Compensation: May include payment for illness, neurological damage, lost wages, and long-term effects.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will offer a no win, no fee service — you won’t pay a penny unless the claim is successful.
Table of Contents
Can I claim compensation for carbon monoxide poisoning?
Yes. If you are injured due to CO poisoning, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim for compensation if:
- Another person or entity owed you a duty of care.
- They breached that duty through negligence.
- You suffered carbon monoxide poisoning as a result.
- This has directly caused an injury or illness.
- Your injury happened in the last three years.
You may also be able to claim on behalf of a loved one as their litigation friend if they cannot take legal action themselves.
A personal injury lawyer can confirm your eligibility for carbon monoxide compensation during a free case assessment over the phone.
Who could I make a carbon monoxide poisoning claim against?
You can make a carbon monoxide poisoning claim against any person or organisation whose negligence exposed you to CO. Depending on where the incident happened, the liable party could be:
- Carry out risk assessments to identify the risk of CO poisoning.
- Put provisions in place to prevent CO poisoning.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors that are fit for the purpose.
- Ensure adequate ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide build-up.
- Keep all control measures in good working order.
- Provide information, instruction and training for employees.
- When necessary, provide monitoring and health surveillance.
- A negligent landlord who failed to provide a safe property or a gas safety certificate.
- An engineer who installed or serviced an appliance incorrectly.
- A manufacturer of a faulty appliance or a defective CO detector.
- A safety inspector who missed a fault during an inspection.
- Your local council, if it failed to provide safe council housing.
If you were exposed to carbon monoxide due to poor maintenance, inadequate ventilation or a breach of health and safety rules, you may be entitled to make a public liability claim.
How long do I have to make a carbon monoxide poisoning claim?
If you’ve suffered carbon monoxide poisoning due to negligence, you generally have three years to start a claim under the Limitation Act 1980.
There are several exceptions to the three-year time limit to make a claim for compensation:
- Child injury claims can be brought by a parent or another litigation friend at any time, regardless of when the poisoning occurred.
- There are generally no time limits to claim carbon monoxide poisoning compensation on behalf of someone who does not have the mental ability to handle their case, while they remain under that disability.
- If a loved one has passed away due to CO poisoning, you will usually have three years from the date they died to make a fatal accident claim, although there can be exceptions.
How do I make a claim for carbon monoxide poisoning?
To start a carbon monoxide claim, all you need to do is contact a personal injury solicitor. They will help you gather the necessary evidence, such as:
- Medical records and specialist assessments of your injuries.
- Reports from other customers injured because of a defective product.
- Statements from witnesses and your personal account of the incident.
- Photographs of faulty appliances, broken boilers, or out-of-date gas certificates.
- Proof of related expenses, including payslips, invoices or bank statements.
Once you have the necessary evidence to support a carbon monoxide claim, your solicitor will notify the defendant of your allegation of negligence.
If they admit you were poisoned by carbon monoxide because of their negligence, settlement negotiations can begin. If they deny liability, court proceedings may follow, although most claims settle out of court.
How much compensation can I claim for carbon monoxide poisoning?
There is no set amount of compensation that is awarded for CO injury compensation claims. Each case is unique, and your solicitor will consider everything you went through to ensure you are fully compensated. Your compensation will typically include two types of damages:
- Special damages cover financial losses and expenses, such as medical treatments, lost wages and costs of care.
- General damages cover the pain, suffering and loss of amenities caused by the carbon monoxide gas poisoning.
According to our personal injury compensation calculator, which is based on the 18th Edition of the Judicial College Guidelines, you could receive amounts in the following ranges:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Brain Damage | Brain damage causing severe physical and cognitive disability, full-time nursing care and significantly reduced life expectancy | £373,000 - £534,000 |
| Brain damage with good recovery and return to work and social life, but possible ongoing concentration or memory issues | £20,000 - £57,000 | |
| Chest Injuries | Chest and lung damage causing some continuing disability | £41,000 - £72,000 |
| Toxic fume or smoke inhalation injury with residual damage but no permanent effect on lung function | £7,000 - £17,000 | |
| Lung Disease | Breathing difficulties requiring an inhaler and significantly affecting work and social life | £41,000 - £72,000 |
| General Psychiatric Damage | Psychiatric damage affecting life, education, work and relationships, but with good improvement and prognosis | £7,700 - £25,000 |
Can I make a No Win No Fee claim for carbon monoxide poisoning?
Yes, you can make a no win no fee carbon monoxide compensation claim. If you are eligible for compensation, your solicitor will work under a conditional fee agreement, which means that:
- You do not pay them any upfront fees to start your claim.
- You will not pay anything throughout the claims process.
- If you win the case, they will deduct a success fee from your compensation (capped at 25% of certain damages).
- If your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t owe them a single penny.
Frequently asked questions
It can be emitted by faulty boilers, heaters, and camping and cooking equipment and can cause poisoning when inhaled by preventing your blood from carrying oxygen to your organs and tissues.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is relatively common, resulting in thousands of hospitalisations and around 30 deaths in the UK each year, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
- Weakness and dizziness.
- Stomach pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Confusion and difficulty concentrating.
- Shortness of breath.
Prolonged exposure can then cause more severe symptoms, such as a fast heart rate, low blood pressure, seizures, hallucinations, loss of consciousness, permanent brain damage, or death.
- Acute poisoning: High exposure over a short period can cause severe neurological and cardiovascular effects, including hallucinations, seizures, and organ damage.
- Chronic poisoning: Long-term low-level exposure may cause headaches, memory problems, confusion, depression, nausea, and hearing disorders.
- You feel better when you leave the house.
- Multiple family members show symptoms simultaneously.
- Those who spend more time indoors are more affected.
- Pets show unusual illness or lethargy.
- There is no fever or typical flu body aches.
Signs that there is a high concentration of carbon monoxide in a room include:
- Heavy condensation and smoke build-up.
- Sooty yellow or brown stains around boilers, stoves or fires.
- Yellow or orange flames instead of blue flames in boilers.
- Solid fuel fires that burn a lot slower than usual.
- Have your gas appliances serviced annually by a Gas Safe engineer.
- Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Ensure proper ventilation for all fuel-burning appliances.
- Never use generators, barbecues, or charcoal indoors.
- Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year.
- Getting fresh air to prevent further inhalation for mild cases.
- Oxygen therapy to remove CO from the blood and restore oxygen levels.
- Supportive care, such as close monitoring, intravenous fluids and medications.
- Physical and occupational therapy for long-term effects.
- Memory and concentration problems.
- Vision and hearing loss.
- Cardiovascular issues such as tachycardia and atherosclerosis.
- Vertigo, ataxia, muscle spasms, or seizures.
- Depression, anxiety and mood disorders.
- Funeral expenses.
- Loss of financial support.
- Loss of services and companionship.
- The pain, suffering and financial losses incurred by them before passing.
- A bereavement award (currently £15,120 in England and Wales for eligible relatives).
To find out if you can make a carbon monoxide poisoning compensation claim, call 0800 470 0472 today for a free case assessment or request a call back. A friendly legal advisor will explain your legal rights and answer all your questions, with no obligation.
