Construction Accident Lawyers California

Carbon monoxide alarm rule takes effect today - are you ready?

I bet you didn't know that you may be violating an air pollution regulation right now. But it's true - you and thousands of other people are probably unaware of a California requirement to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your residence. It's called Senate Bill (SB) 183 - The Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010.

Usually when talking about air pollution, the conversation drifts toward industrial smokestacks or belching fumes from diesel powered trucks. But CO, common to the previously mentioned sources may also be present indoors - in your own home.

CO  results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels - gas, oil, kerosene, wood, charcoal, even paper. if you have a gas powered range, water heater, clothes dryer, or a wood or gas fired fireplace, chances are that CO is being generated and going up the exhaust vent or chimney.

But, sometimes it doesn't.

Because CO can be very deadly if not properly ventilated and has been implicated in the deaths of many over the years (see below), SB 183 requires carbon monoxide alarms/detectors to be installed wherever there are fossil fueled appliances present. With different deadlines depending upon whether the structure is a single family home, rental unit, or apartment, owners of these buildings must install the devices or face monetary penalties.

As of July 1, 2011, all single family homeowners that have appliances that burn fossil fuels or have an attached garage must have these CO devices installed. All other dwelling units have until January 1, 2013. The number to be installed is based upon new construction building codes or manufacturer instructions.

Failure to have the devices installed may result in a fine of $200 per offense. However, the fine won't be imposed if corrected within 30 days of receiving a violation notice.

Additionally, one can anticipate delays in getting building permits approved or transferring titles (e.g., home sales) if the alarms/detectors aren't installed (although the title transfers won't be invalidated). An additional fine of $100 in those cases, plus court costs and attorneys fees, may also be levied.

The devices are fairly easy to install and relatively cheap. They are sold at most home improvement and hardware stores, beginning at prices around $20 each.

Kia and seatbelt company sued after car accident | Sacramento ...

A jury found in favor of a Southern United States family in a wrongful death claim against the car manufacturer Kia and the maker of a seatbelt buckle last week. The jury found the manufacturers were negligent and that negligence resulted in the death of a 16-year-old girl who was involved in a fatal car accident .

The issue arose back in 2004 on the Fourth of July. A 16-year-old girl was traveling in the 1999 Kia Sephia her father gave her for her 16 birthday two months earlier. The young woman lost control of the vehicle and was involved in a single car accident. The Kia hit a sign near the road and flipped over during the crash. The young driver was ejected from the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries.

The young woman's family sued the car maker and the manufacturer of the seatbelt buckle for wrongful death. The dispute never settled and the evidence was presented to a jury at trial.

The family alleged in its lawsuit that Kia knew the seatbelt buckle was defective. The 1999 Kia Sephia was not included in a recall of Kia vehicles manufactured between 1995 and 1998. The family alleged in its product defect-wrongful death lawsuit that Kia Sephia and Sportages manufactured in 1999 and 2000 had the same faulty seat belt buckle installed in them that were the subject of a December 2002 recall of earlier Kia models.

Kia reportedly recalled the 1999 and 2000 models in August 2004. The young woman died on the Fourth of July in that same year.

Witnesses say the girl was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the roll-over crash. The car manufacturer and the maker of the seatbelt maintain to this day the woman was not wearing a belt when the Kia rolled over.

The jury found in favor of the plaintiffs Thursday after the jury deliberated the facts and awarded a multi-million dollar wrongful death verdict.

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