Victims of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Following Loss of Power Identified

by | Feb 19, 2021 | Wrongful Death

There was a tragic incident on February 16, 2021 at 8300 La Roche in southwest Houston, Texas.  In an attempt to charge a phone following the loss of electricity, a family ran their vehicle in an enclosed garage.  Unfortunately, carbon monoxide filled their house as a result.  An adult female and child were pronounced dead, with two others sustaining injuries and requiring hospitalization.  Authorities have identified the two deceased individuals as Etenesh Mersha and her seven year old daughter.

With the loss of power, millions have had to find other ways to generate heat.  Unfortunately, numerous deaths in the region have resulted.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this deadly fire.  Texas has been hit with a historic winter storm over the past few days, but it was one that the state and its electric providers should have been prepared for.  Millions of residents remain without power through no fault of their own.  The number of households without power was over 4 million on Tuesday, February 16, 2021.  The unfortunate reality is that the decision to plunge millions of homes into coldness has a side effect – people’s lives.  As temperatures plunge to below freezing in some parts of the state, reports are that numerous people have died or been seriously injured as a result of the loss of power.  There was a tragic house fire in Sugar Land as a result of the loss of power during the Winter Storm that hit Texas this week, killing four.

Ultimately, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”) was in charge of making preparations to insure the safety of all the residents of the state.  It was entirely foreseeable that conditions during this storm would worsen and that the electric grid would need to prepare for the increased use of power throughout the state.  Whether through incompetence or a decision to simply ignore the risk, the state was left unprepared.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this storm and the dangerous decisions that were made both leading up to it and during the storm.  Safe electric providers must take adequate precautions to prepare for weather of any kind.  Whether it is a hurricane, a heat wave, or a winter storm, the state’s power providers must anticipate the conditions and prepare to provide adequate capacity for their customer’s needs.  When this does not occur, people can die as a result.

Spagnoletti Law Firm has attorneys licensed in Texas, Florida, and New York.  We have handled numerous cases involving complex litigation in both federal and state court across the country.  Our attorneys have extensive experience in litigation following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the significant flooding that occurred in Harris County following Hurricane Harvey.  Our attorneys have the skills needed to aggressively represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the loss of electricity during this storm.  Our lawyers also have experience in representing businesses who have experienced lost income or property damage, and will pursue those claims against all responsible parties.

The experienced attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was seriously injured or died as a result of the loss of power.  Please call us to learn about your rights if you are one of the individuals who have suffered personal injury or death, economic loss, or damaged property as a result of the decisions made by private companies in cutting off electricity.  We have already filed suit for individuals who have been injured as a result of the loss of electricity due to the negligence of a third party.  Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your legal rights.