If carbon monoxide poisoning has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to severe long-term health issues. Victims exposed to CO due to negligence or failures in health and safety procedures might be eligible for compensation for medical treatment and long-term effects.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a carbon monoxide poisoning, we can help. You can make a hazardous substances compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist solicitor.
In this article
Claiming carbon monoxide poisoning compensation
If you have been diagnosed with an illness or health condition caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, and you were exposed to the gas by someone else's negligence, you may be able to claim compensation.
You are not alone
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas which is produced from the incomplete burning of fuels such as wood, coal, oil and gas. Carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless. It is extremely dangerous when inhaled, and can cause illness and even death.
Carbon monoxide is frequently found in industrial areas, mines and garages, and can also be found in homes or offices, if a defective heater is in use for example.
How do I know if I have been affected by carbon monoxide poisoning?
People often don't know carbon monoxide is present until they begin to suffer from the side effects of inhaling it.
When carbon monoxide is inhaled into the lungs, it enters the bloodstream and depletes the amount of oxygen present in the blood. When cells in the are deprived of oxygen they begin to die.
If you think you have been exposed to CO (or are currently being exposed) you should immediately report your concerns and seek medical attention. A GP or hospital visit will confirm whether you are likely to be suffering from CO poisoning. If exposure is confirmed, you should take immediate steps to remove yourself from the hazard until it can be made safe.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
The severity of carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms can be affected by how long the sufferer was exposed to the gas, and how concentrated the gas was. Exposure in a small, well-insulated flat can cause more serious symptoms to emerge sooner, compared to intermittent exposure in a larger workplace.
Common CO poisoning symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Tiredness
- Confusion
Carbon monoxide poisoning can also be fatal.
If you have suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning at work or at home, and a third party is found to be responsible, you may be able to claim compensation for the injury caused.
Who can I claim against?
Who you make a compensation claim against will depend on where you suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.
I was exposed to CO at home
If you suffered carbon monoxide poisoning at home you may be able to make a claim against:
- The manufacturer of the appliance emitting carbon monoxide, if the appliance is found to be faulty.
- The person or company who installed the appliance, if it is found to have been installed incorrectly.
- The person or company who performed a safety inspection of your home or appliances, if they failed to recognise that the appliance was faulty.
- If you have a carbon monoxide detector that did not work effectively, you might also be able to make a claim against the company that manufactured or installed it.
- If you rent your home from the council, a housing association or a private landlord, you may be able to make a claim against them for negligence, for failing to ensure the safety of the property.
Can I claim CO poisoning compensation for a faulty boiler?
Faulty boilers and faulty boiler installations are the most common cause of CO exposure in the home, but defective gas ovens and heating systems can also lead to harmful CO exposure.
Older boilers can also release CO, and should be regularly inspected. You may be able to claim compensation from a professional Gas Safe engineer if they signed off a defective boiler as safe when it wasn't.
I was exposed to carbon monoxide at work
It is your employer's duty to keep you safe at work. Among many other duties, you employer is responsible for ensuring that you are not exposed to dangerous levels of harmful chemicals and gases like carbon monoxide.
If you have suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning at work, this may be due to your employer's negligence, and you may be able to make a compensation claim.
Your solicitor will identify who is responsible for your exposure, and will confirm whether you can claim compensation.
I was exposed to carbon monoxide in a public place
In addition to safeguarding their own workforce, organisations owe a duty of care to the general public to protect them from harm.
Although CO exposure in public places is rare, you may still be able to claim compensation if the exposure happened as the result of another person or company's negligence.
Do I qualify for carbon monoxide poisoning compensation?
You will usually be eligible to claim compensation if you have been injured in the following circumstances:
- within the last 3 years, and;
- another person was to blame, and;
- that person owed you a duty of care.
Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.
My injury was partly my fault - can I still claim?
Cases where the defendant and claimant are both partly to blame are actually quite commonplace in personal injury claims.
In our 2023 Work Injury Claimant Survey, 26.02% of injured workers believed they were partly responsible for their injuries, or were uncertain.
You could still have a valid claim if you were partly to blame for your injury or illness. If you were injured at work, you can claim compensation from your employer even if you or a co-worker caused the accident.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long do I have to claim carbon monoxide poisoning compensation?
For most injury claims, you have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start the claims process.
If you were not immediately aware that you were harmed by someone else's negligence, the 3-year time limit runs from the date you were diagnosed and became aware of what caused your injury or illness.
How much compensation can I claim for a carbon monoxide poisoning?
The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:
- the seriousness of your injury, and
- any financial losses or costs you have incurred.
At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
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General damages
General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).
Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Special damages
Special damages is compensation awarded to cover any financial losses and expenses you incur as a result of your injury or negligent medical treatment. These damages aim to put you back in the financial position you would have been in, had your injury not occurred.
Special damages will also cover your medical treatment expenses, that might include oxygen therapy, hospital monitoring and psychological support.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
Average carbon monoxide poisoning general damages compensation
The following carbon monoxide poisoning payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, Sixteenth Edition by the Judicial College.
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
| Injury | Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain injury | |||
| Brain injury | Minor | Minimal injury with full or near-complete recovery | £2,010 to £11,610 |
| Brain injury | Less severe | Good recovery with a return to work and normal social life | £13,930 to £39,150 |
| Brain injury | Moderate | Resulting in a lower degree of dependence | £39,150 to £199,150 |
| Brain injury | Serious | Resulting in serious disability and substantial dependence on others | £199,150 to £256,370 |
| Brain injury | Severe | Very severe with the need for full-time nursing care | £256,370 to £367,260 |
| Chest injury | |||
| Chest injury | Moderate | Some permanent tissue damage but no significant long-term lung problem | £11,450 to £16,330 |
| Chest injury | Moderate | Injury from inhaling toxic fumes or smoke | £4,840 to £11,450 |
Employers' liability claims claims
Work-related illness claims are also known as employers' liability claims. Click on the icons below for more information:
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No win, no fee carbon monoxide poisoning compensation claims
With no win, no fee, you can claim carbon monoxide poisoning compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
How we can help you with your injury claim
Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning injury claims.
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Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher
About the author
Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.