How A Gas Leak Causes Injuries? Do I Have a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Maryland?
Many homes and offices in the United States use natural gas. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2020 about 50% of residential homes use natural gas for either heating or cooking. Though natural gas is a valuable natural resource and are one of the main fossil fuels that we use in our daily lives, when things go wrong natural gas can be dangerous causing gas leak injuries. Know how to spot a leak so you never have to suffer any injuries.
How Do Leaks Appear?
As a fossil fuel, natural gas is often found underground, often it is harnessed for various purposes and run through pipes. When these pipes age or become damaged, a gas leak can occur. Under controlled circumstances, natural gas is very useful but can have a number of ill affects when a leak presents itself. It happens when there are:
- Leaking gas lines
- Damaged propane tanks
- Improperly installed household appliances
- Defective gas control valves
- An open gas valve
- Improper stored gas storage tanks
- Leaking gas hoses
- Defective gas connectors
How to Spot a Gas Leak
A carbon monoxide detector is the easiest and most accurate way to detect a gas leak. Ideally, every home that uses natural gas would be equipped with one. If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector or it fails to detect the leak, you should be on the look out for damaged gas pipes, dead or dying plants that are in your home, the smell of sulfur or rotten eggs, a hissing or whistling sound at the origin of the leak and finally given that natural gas powers many appliances in the home, there would be a dramatic increase in your gas bill in the event of a gas leak.
It may cause affects such as:
- Ringing ears
- Loss of appetite
- Chest pains
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Becoming lightheaded
- Shortness of breath
- Blistering
- Nose bleeds
If you experience any of these symptoms please seek immediate medical attention and contact an experienced professional to investigate a possible gas leak.
In more severe cases, accidents can lead to fires and explosions. Natural gas is an extremely flammable substance and if there is a gas leak in your home, a tragedy could happen at any time. Majority of the time, gas leaks happen because of human error. Whether it’s forgetting to turn the gas off on your stove or improperly maintained gas pipes in the home. If you rent a home or apartment it is your landlord’s responsibility to provide you with a safe and secure place of residence. If a leak occurs on a rental property due to inaction by the landlord or is not properly addressed in a timely fashion, you may have a premises liability case.
How Is Liability Determined in a Gas Leak Accident?
Liability is an important part of any personal injury case. It’s important to note that personal injury laws in Maryland may be subject to contributory negligence, which means that if the accident victim’s own negligence contributed to the accident, they may not have a case. Because of this, it is important to hire an experienced Maryland premises liability attorney. With the help of the experienced attorneys of Malloy Law Offices, LLC you will have a better chance of proving that the gas leak injury you suffered was because of negligence that you did not contribute to.
Natural gas is a dangerous resource that must be handled very carefully. If natural gas is mishandled in the storage or distribution in your home then you may have a case for negligence on the part of your landlord or gas company.
Can Get Help For a Gas Leak Injury From an Attorney in Maryland?
In the aftermath of a gas leak, you could be suffering from injuries, mental anguish, loss of property and all the uncertainty that entails. By contacting the experienced Maryland premises liability attorneys of Malloy Law Offices, LLC after a gas leak injury, you will be able to receive a no-cost consultation about your case. Your first offer as the victim of a gas leak accident will be a low-ball attempt to make the problem go away. You deserve more than that. You suffered an injury in your home, possibly suffering life changing injuries and losing property.
We will make sure you recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to. We operate on a contingency fee basis. If you work with us, it costs you nothing unless we win. You don’t want to wait long due to statute of limitations. Call us to get help right away: 202-933-1918.