Buckhead Meat & Seafood Carbon Monoxide Accident Leaves 5 Injured in Hampshire

Unsafe Premises - May 3, 2025

Six People Hospitalized After Two Separate Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Accidents at Business on South State Street and Buckhead Meat & Seafood in Hampshire

Buckhead Meat & Seafood Carbon Monoxide Accident Leaves 5 Injured in Hampshire

HAMPSHIRE, ILLINOIS (May 3, 2025) – Six people were hospitalized in Hampshire after separate carbon monoxide poisoning accidents at Buckhead Meat & Seafood Carbon and another business.

The first incident occurred at a downtown business located on South State Street. Firefighters were called to the business around 8:08 PM on Tuesday.

They detected high levels of carbon monoxide. One person was transported to an Elgin hospital. That victim had symptoms commonly associated with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Firefighters were able to locate the source of the leak and address it. Just two days later on Thursday, firefighters were called to Buckhead Meat & Seafood on 200 Flanigan Drive.

Emergency responders also found high levels of carbon monoxide and evacuated the building. At least five people were transported to Elgin hospitals in order to receive care.

Two other victims were transported to emergency care from the scene. It remains unclear if the source of the CO leak at Buckhead Meat & Seafood was ever determined.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Hampshire Carbon Monoxide Accidents

Carbon monoxide (CO) can pose a serious risk of injury or death at certain levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in the blood. When too much carbon monoxide is in the air, carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the red blood cells. This can lead to serious tissue damage or even death.” An estimated 400 Americans die and another 14,000 are hospitalized every year in CO poisoning accidents. There are many different potential sources of a CO leak.

  • Generators: Any type of device that burns fuel can potentially cause a CO leak. This includes generators.
  • Stoves: Certain cooking appliances, such as stoves, can also cause a CO leak.
  • Water Heaters: Water heaters are another major source of CO leaks. These leaks tend to be the result of devices that are not properly inspected or maintained as they age.

Businesses across Illinois have a legal obligation to ensure that their premises are in a reasonably safe condition. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code 740 ILCS 130/2, property owners must use reasonable care to protect visitors from conditions that could pose a hazard. They must also warn about Layden defects or dangers on their premises. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition on their property, they must take action.

A number of lawsuits have been filed after people have been injured in carbon monoxide accidents. Consider, for example, Ferrell v. Esparza (2001). Employees at Joe’s allegedly knew that certain equipment emitted carbon monoxide. Despite this knowledge, they failed to take steps to properly ventilate the building and ensure CO monitoring. This led to an incident where numerous people were injured in a CO poisoning accident. A court ultimately held that Joe’s breached its duty of care to protect plaintiffs from harm. It is important that certain steps are taken after any CO poisoning accident.

  • Medical Evaluation: Accident victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation. Many of the injuries associated with CO poisoning may not be obvious.
  • Investigation: A thorough investigation should be conducted in order to determine the source of the CO leak. This investigation should also determine if the faulty device was routinely inspected and maintained.
  • Legal Counsel: Accident victims should seek the guidance of an experienced premises liability attorney. An attorney can help victims recover damages for medical bills and lost wages.

The vast majority of carbon monoxide accidents are preventable. They tend to involve situations where businesses are not adhering to safety standards. For example, a business may not routinely inspect devices that could release carbon monoxide. Another source of liability for business is failing to adequately monitor carbon monoxide when it is a potential hazard. Any person injured in a carbon monoxide accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Getting Legal Help for Carbon Monoxide Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured at Buckhead Meat & Seafood and the other business on South State Street. It is our sincere hope that all of the victims will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that a similar incident can be prevented.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Hampshire carbon monoxide accident? You may be entitled to financial damages. Our team of premises liability attorneys is here to get you the support and justice that you are entitled to under the law. We will do everything in our power to hold the business that harms you fully accountable. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here to assist you. You can contact our office anytime at (312) 564-4256.