Storm outages and cold snaps hit Georgia hard in November. That’s when portable generators hum on porches, furnaces kick on after months of rest, and—too often—families suffer carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. CO is odorless and invisible, but it can cause headache, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and death within minutes. Knowing what to do in the first hours and days can protect your health and your claim.
Why CO spikes after storms and in cold weather
Improperly placed generators vent exhaust toward windows and soffits; furnaces with cracked heat exchangers or blocked flues leak CO; cars idling in attached garages push fumes into bedrooms. Public-health guidance is simple: never run a generator indoors or in a garage, and keep it at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents with the exhaust pointed away from the home. Install working CO alarms.
Georgia requirements and where alarms are expected
Georgia has required CO alarms in new one- and two-family homes and townhomes for years, and many rentals or renovated dwellings must include CO alarms under adopted building codes. Separately, federally assisted rental housing must have CO alarms as of December 27, 2022—owners receiving HUD rental assistance must comply. Exact obligations can depend on build date, fuel-burning appliances, attached garages, and local code enforcement, so quick investigation matters.
Who may be liable after a CO poisoning in Georgia
- Landlords and property managers if they failed to provide reasonably safe premises (e.g., missing or nonfunctional CO alarms where required, ignored furnace complaints, blocked or faulty venting).
- Manufacturers/retailers of heaters, furnaces, generators, or alarms if a defect caused or worsened the exposure (note Georgia’s 10-year product-liability statute of repose from a product’s first sale—early model/serial identification is critical).
- Contractors/servicers for negligent installation, repair, or chimney work.
- Short-term rental hosts or platforms when hazardous conditions (unvented heaters, inoperable alarms) injure guests.
What to do right away (health first, proof second)
- Seek medical care immediately. Tell clinicians you suspect CO exposure so they check carboxyhemoglobin levels and document symptoms.
- Ventilate and evacuate safely. Don’t re-enter until advised by fire officials.
- Preserve the scene and devices. Unplug and tag the generator, space heater, or furnace; do not discard or repair. Photograph placement (distance to openings), exhaust direction, extension cords, and any blocked flues.
- Document alarms. Photograph CO alarms, note whether they sounded, and save the device(s) and batteries for testing.
- Identify witnesses and cameras. Note responding fire/EMS units, get the incident number, and ask neighbors for doorbell or porch-cam footage.
- Notify the owner/manager in writing (for apartments or short-term rentals) and request preservation of maintenance logs, prior work orders, and any inspection reports.
- Avoid recorded statements to insurers until you’ve spoken with counsel. These steps align with public-safety guidance from CDC/NFPA on generator placement and CO alarm use.
How claims are valued in CO cases
CO injuries range from headaches and nausea to cognitive deficits, cardiac complications, and fatality. Georgia law allows recovery for medical care (ER, hyperbaric therapy where indicated, neurology/cardiology follow-up), future treatment, lost wages or diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and in tragic cases, wrongful death damages. When a landlord or contractor ignored known hazards—or when a product defect is proven—liability expands to those parties and their insurers.
Deadlines you should know
Most Georgia personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury (different rules can apply for minors or wrongful death). Product claims typically face a ten-year outer limit from the product’s first sale for use or consumption, so acting quickly to identify model/serial numbers matters.
Prevention notes for the rest of the season
- Operate generators only outdoors and 20+ feet from openings; aim the exhaust away from the home. Never run one on a porch, in a carport, or near windows—even if they’re “cracked.”
- Install CO alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas; test regularly and replace per manufacturer guidance.
- Have furnaces, chimneys, and water heaters inspected before heavy use; keep vents and intakes clear of debris after storms.
- Never use ovens or grills for home heating.
How Gunn Law Group builds CO exposure cases
We move fast to preserve the devices, obtain fire reports and 911 audio, and secure HVAC and maintenance records. We coordinate expert inspections (combustion analysis, venting, and alarm forensics), identify every responsible party (owner/manager, contractor, manufacturer/seller), and map every layer of insurance. Then we document the full medical impact and negotiate from evidence—not guesswork.
If a power outage or furnace problem led to CO exposure in your home, apartment, or rental, don’t face multiple insurers alone. Need a home run? Call the Big Gunn at 888-BIG-GUNN or visit thegunnlawgroup.com for a free case review with an Atlanta personal injury lawyer who knows how to win carbon monoxide cases.
