Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and undetectable without specialized equipment which is why it’s called the silent killer. Victims often don’t realize they’ve been exposed until it’s too late, and by then the damage can be permanent or fatal.
At the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC, we’ve represented individuals and families devastated by carbon monoxide exposure in Virginia, including children left with lifelong cognitive impairments, adults unable to return to work after brain damage, and families who lost a loved one entirely.
When CO poisoning happens because a landlord, hotel, contractor, or manufacturer failed to do their job, we help victims and their families pursue the compensation they’re owed. With decades of experience in personal injury litigation, our team knows how to handle these incredibly complex cases.
Contact us for a free consultation.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cases We Handle
We represent clients poisoned by carbon monoxide in all types of situations including:
- Faulty or poorly maintained furnaces, boilers, and water heaters
- Landlord failure to install or maintain required CO detectors
- Improperly ventilated gas-powered appliances, generators, or space heaters
- Hotels and rental properties that neglect safety codes or fail to warn guests
- Defectively designed or manufactured heaters, generators, or appliances lacking proper warnings
- HVAC systems or gas lines improperly installed by contractors or construction companies
- CO leaks affecting multiple residents in apartment or condo buildings
- Exposure leading to permanent neurological injury or lifelong cognitive impairment
- Wrongful death caused by carbon monoxide exposure
Experienced Virginia CO Poisoning Lawyers
Attorney Richard J. Serpe has spent nearly four decades handling complex personal injury and wrongful death cases, earning a national reputation for advocating on behalf of injured victims. He’s been recognized by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers for over 20 years running.
Best Lawyers has named Mr. Serpe Norfolk’s Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs twice (2020 and 2027).
Attorney Ashley E. Strandjord brings a thorough, detail-oriented approach to every premises liability case she handles, including carbon monoxide poisoning matters. Clients know she’s accessible, prepared, and fully invested in their outcome.
When you work with the Serpe Firm, you’ll receive:
- Decades of experience in carbon monoxide cases
- Hands-on, personalized legal representation
- Thorough case preparation and investigation
- No legal fees unless we win your case
Virginia Carbon Monoxide Settlements
- $2.5 Million: Faulty building repairs led to fatal CO poisonings in Portsmouth
- $1.5 Million: Negligent repairs cause severe CO poisoning to family in a Portsmouth rental
Every case is different and prior results cannot guarantee a similar outcome. We evaluate every case individually.
Our Clients Say it Best!
“Richard along with a great team recently settled a very difficult lawsuit in my favor, throughout the whole process Mr. Serpe and his colleagues have become more then lawyers they are my family because they genuinely care for each and every client. Richard will go above and beyond for any of his clients. He still even checks on me now that my case is settled and I’m forever grateful and glad I chose his law firm to assist me. I am now able to move on with my life in a better financially stable place.” – Yelp Review
Compensation in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cases
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to recover:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or neurological damage
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages, if a loved one passed away
When Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Is Someone Else’s Fault
Carbon monoxide exposure isn’t always a freak accident. Most cases we see trace back to someone cutting corners on maintenance, safety, or basic care for the people relying on them:
- Faulty or poorly maintained heating systems: furnaces, boilers, and water heaters in older homes and apartment buildings
- Improper ventilation: gas-powered appliances, generators, or space heaters used in enclosed or poorly vented areas
- Landlord and property management negligence: failure to repair unsafe furnaces, heating systems, or other conditions that cause carbon monoxide exposure, or failure to provide carbon monoxide alarms when required by applicable law.
- Hotel and short-term rental negligence: malfunctioning pool heaters, boilers, or HVAC systems in guest rooms and shared mechanical spaces
- Defective products: heaters, generators, or appliances with design or manufacturing defects
- Improperly installed HVAC systems or gas lines: by contractors or construction companies
- Multi-unit exposure: CO leaks affecting multiple residents in apartment or condo buildings
If any of these caused your exposure, that’s not just bad luck, it’s a failure someone should be held accountable for if you are severely injured.
Who Can Be Held Liable for CO Poisoning
Once everyone is safe and treated, the legal question becomes: who let this happen? Depending on the circumstances, liability may fall on:
- A landlord or property management company that ignored maintenance requests or failed to install required detectors
- A hotel, motel, or short-term rental host
- An HVAC contractor who improperly installed or repaired a heating system
- A manufacturer of a defective heater, generator, or appliance
Our firm investigates the mechanical and ownership history behind the exposure to determine who is liable for your injuries or your loved ones death.
Here’s What Happens After You Contact Us
Free Case Evaluation: We review the facts of your exposure during a free consultation. If we believe we can help, we’ll explain how and what to expect going forward.
Investigating the Exposure: We may gather maintenance records from landlords or property managers, fire department and emergency medical reports, CO detector functionality data, building code violations or inspection failures, product recalls or warnings, eyewitness accounts and photographs, and medical documentation linking your symptoms to CO exposure. In many cases, we work with medical experts, engineers, and toxicology specialists to build a compelling case.
Handling the Insurance Companies: Once you hire us, adjusters have to go through us to get to you. Landlord liability policies, hotel insurance, homeowner’s policies, and product liability coverage can all be in play. We know how to identify every available source of coverage and push back against lowball offers.
Accounting for Your Losses: A fair recovery isn’t limited to the emergency room bill. It includes future medical treatment, including care for lasting neurological damage, lost income, and the real impact this exposure has had on your life. We work to document the full picture.
Going to Court When Needed: Most cases settle through negotiation. Some need to go before a judge or jury. If the responsible party’s insurer won’t make a fair offer, we may need to prepare for trial while continuing to negotiate.
FAQs About Virginia CO Poisoning Claims
Who can be held liable for CO poisoning? Depending on the circumstances, liability may fall on landlords or property managers who failed to install (when applicable) or maintain CO detectors or appliances, hotels and hospitality businesses that neglected safety regulations, product manufacturers if a defectively designed appliance was involved, or contractors who improperly installed or repaired HVAC systems are common negligent parties.
What if I was exposed to carbon monoxide at work? Workplace exposures are usually handled differently. In Virginia, on-the-job injuries are generally covered under workers’ compensation, which limits your claim against your employer directly. If a third party caused the exposure, like a contractor or property owner other than your employer, you may still have a separate personal injury claim in addition to any workers’ comp benefits.
What if I was exposed while renting my home or apartment? Landlords have a legal duty to maintain safe premises, which can include properly functioning heating systems and, in many cases, working CO detectors when required by law. If negligent maintenance caused your exposure, you may have a claim against the property owner or management company.
What does it cost to hire your firm? Nothing upfront. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we settle or win your case.
Virginia Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawyers
If you or someone you love has suffered from severe carbon monoxide poisoning anywhere in Virginia, the Serpe Firm is here to help. We offer free consultations and never charge legal fees unless we win. Call (757) 233-0009 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation.
