Princeton NJ Inhalation Injury Lawyers
Inhalation Injuries
Fires can ravage a home in a matter of minutes, and occupants of the home have even less time than that to get to safety. Though flames can seriously disfigure our skin, smoke can seriously impair our ability to breath. Inhalation injuries are particularly dangerous because of their ability to quickly incapacitate victims, rendering them susceptible to greater injury during a fire outbreak as a result.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of fire victims die from smoke inhalation, and not from flames. Smoke inhalation is a crippling impairment that results when the body breathes in smoke and other harmful gases that can result from fires. The flames of a fire use oxygen as fuel, just like we do. Once flames convert the oxygen to energy, carbon monoxide is produced. So, in a fire, not only is the oxygen we need to survive used up quickly by the flames, but it is replaced with carbon monoxide, a gas that the human body cannot use in order to survive, and is ultimately poisonous if large enough amounts are breathed in. It is estimated that mortality rate rises between 30 to 40 percent when a person is suffering from inhalation injuries. Those who suffer from inhalation injuries are susceptible to slower recovery times, the possibility of succumbing to other burn injuries due to the increase in mortality rate, and debilitating lung conditions that can persist later on in life.
Inhalation injuries cannot necessarily be prevented, but the likelihood of them occurring can be greatly reduced. Smoke detectors can warn would-be victims of danger, and properly maintained emergency exits or escape routes in private residences can greatly reduce the risk of inhalation injury. Even if a fire does not occur, inhalation injuries can result from gas leaks or prolonged exposure to improperly ventilated areas. Property owners, particularly those who open up their property to visitors, are responsible for ensuring the safety of all visitors.
New Jersey inhalation injuries can result from gas leaks as well. Gas leaks may or may not be caused by a faulty product, such as a hot water heater, or could be caused by the improper installation of a gas line into a product, such as a clothes dryer. Regardless of the cause, negligence of some kind can definitely play a large role, and monetary compensation to help recover from injuries can usually be attained.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of inhalation injury, please don't hesitate to contact the skilled attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein. Our knowledgeable New Jersey inhalation injury lawyers will examine the details surrounding your inhalation injury and will hold those responsible for their actions. Please call us today for a free consultation of your case.
Contact our team at Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation and let our smart, aggressive legal representation go to work for you today.