Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Claim Guide & Payout Tables 2026
Discover how much compensation you can claim if you are suffering symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
We describe what carbon monoxide poisoning is; the symptoms you will likely experience together with the likely places where CO poisoning can occur.
- Payouts Table 2026 For Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Claims
Payouts Table 2026 For Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Claims
Our payouts table describes the amounts of compensation you can claim for the pain and suffering you experience for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Remember – you can claim additional compensation for financial losses (for example – lost income) that you might experience.
| Carbon Monoxide Poisoning | Claim Payouts |
|---|---|
| Minor Short term symptoms | Up to £6,500 |
| Moderate Residual damage to lung function | £6,500 – £15,500 |
| Serious Poisoning Affecting heart Damage to brain Serious lung impairment | See Heart Injury Payouts Brain Injury Payouts Lung Damage Payouts |
What exactly is carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide is also known from the chemical symbols for carbon and oxygen or CO.
When inhaled into the lungs in high concentrations – carbon monoxide is a very dangerous poison.
If the immediate signs or symptoms are not noticed – carbon monoxide poisoning can cause organ damage or even death.
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when CO combines with the haemoglobin in the red blood cells removing oxygen from your blood.
Suffocation On Dry Land
When oxygen is removed from your blood – both your organs and body tissues are in essence being suffocated from lack of oxygen.
It is as though you are drowning on dry land.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is sometimes known as a silent killer.
CO gas cannot be smelt or seen as it is both colourless and odourless.
Should the poisoning occur when you are asleep – it is unlikely that your body will notice. Therefore, it is quite often you will never wake up.
What situations can lead to exposure to carbon monoxide?
There are three main situations which carbon monoxide can be encountered, which include:
Worker and workplace exposure
There are not only many types of equipment in the workplace, but also types of working environment that can produce carbon monoxide.
Regular inspection and maintenance of such equipment is essential to ensure no workers are exposed to carbon monoxide.
Some jobs might necessitate exposure to harmful fumes. For example – fire fighters and welders. In which case adequate breathing protection should be provided.
Examples of types of workers that might be exposed to CO, include:
- Mechanics (especially of diesel engines).
- Drivers of fork lift trucks.
- Welders.
- Emergency services fire fighters.
- Warehouse workers.
- Blast furnace operatives.
What should employers do to guard against CO exposure?
Where there is risk of carbon monoxide – employers should have both CO detectors and alarms.
Therefore – any equipment malfunction or CO leakage can be immediately detected.
Workers in turn are properly notified by a sounding alarm.
Rented accommodation with gas appliances and wood burn fires
Private landlords and housing associations are all required to regularly inspect and maintain gas appliances.
For example – boilers, central heating systems, gas fires, gas cookers or any other form of gas appliance.
A landlord should always have all gas appliances inspected annually and be issued with a gas safety certificate.
A copy of this should be supplied to you as the tenant at the commencement of your tenancy and each time the certificate is renewed.
Landlords and housing authorities must ensure all gas appliances are properly inspected by a CORGI approved engineer and carbon monoxide levels are tested.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should also be provided to alert tenants should carbon monoxide escape.
Garages and vehicle exhaust fumes
It is well known that vehicle exhausts produce carbon monoxide.
Enclosed working environments, such as car garages and lorry indoor depots, can lead to exposure to high concentrations of CO gas resulting in poisoning.
Symptoms, signs and side effects of carbon monoxide poisoning
There are many different signs, symptoms and side effects of CO poisoning, some of which include:
- Dizziness and headaches.
- Sickness and abdominal pains.
- Tiredness.
- Heart palpitations.
- Shortness of breath and a feeling of confusion.
In the worst cases of carbon monoxide poisoning – severe oxygen deprivation occurs.
Long term effects could include not only brain damage and heart conditions, but also psychological injuries (for example – depression).
Detecting carbon monoxide exposure
One of the first tests your doctor will perform should you be suspected of having carbon monoxide poisoning is a blood test (alternatively a breath test).
A blood test can determine the level of CO in your blood. However, very quickly after exposure the CO levels in your blood can reduce with a half life of every 6 hours.
These test results will often prove essential evidence as to your injury
You Must Prove You Suffered Injury
To win your carbon monoxide poisoning personal injury claim – you need to prove that you suffered injury as a result of exposure to carbon dioxide. Not just that CO exposure took place.
When can you claim compensation?
So long as your solicitor can show that you were owed a duty of care and exposure to the carbon monoxide was the legal fault or responsibility of someone or some business – it is likely you will succeed in claiming compensation for your injuries.
For example – you may be able to claim if your exposure to carbon monoxide occurred in rented accommodation and your landlord had not kept on top of the annual gas safety certificates or did not provide appropriate warning alarms.
Alternatively – if your exposure to carbon monoxide took place in an indoor workplace, you should be entitled to claim compensation from your employer.
Both an employer and a landlord owe you a duty to keep you safe whilst on the premises.
Whereas, if the carbon monoxide poisoning occurs in your own home as a result of a faulty gas appliance – you may well be entitled to claim compensation from the manufacturer or supplier of the appliance.
If however carbon monoxide poisoning occurs in your own home as a result of your own failure to maintain equipment – it is unlikely you will be successful in a claim for compensation.
Calculating payouts for carbon monoxide poisoning
The amount of compensation you can claim for carbon monoxide poisoning can vary significantly depending on the symptoms experienced and the potential implications into the future of normal lung function.
Examples of compensation payouts, include:
CO poisoning causing short term symptoms
You may suffer short term symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning with no residual damage to your lungs or any long term effects. The amount of compensation you can claim is likely to be up to £6,500
Residual low level damage to lungs
As a result of CO poisoning you suffer damage to your lungs with some permanent interference with your lung functions. You can expect an average payout compensation settlement of between £6,500 – £15,500.
Serious CO poisoning
Severe oxygen deprivation from carbon monoxide can cause brain damage, heart conditions and psychological injury. We address compensation payouts for these injuries in other of our compensation payout articles.
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