Can I Sue a Restaurant for Giving Me Food Poisoning?

 Posted on June 07, 2022 in Personal Injury

Food poisoning affects about 48 million people each year in the U.S. If you have suffered from food poisoning, you know just how miserable it can be. Cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea are sometimes just the start. Food poisoning can also cause extremely high fever and dangerous dehydration.

If you or a loved one suffered from food poisoning or foodborne illness after eating at a restaurant, you may be able to sue the restaurant and recover compensation for your medical bills. However, bringing a successful claim is not easy. You will need to prove that the restaurant’s negligent actions caused your illness and that you sustained damages or financial losses due to the illness. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you gather evidence and bring a compelling claim against the business that caused the food poisoning.

Liability for Food Poisoning

There are hundreds of different types of food poisoning. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause food poisoning include:

• Salmonella
• Staphylococcus aureus
• E. coli
• Listeria
• Norovirus
• Campylobacter
• Trichinella spiralis
• Clostridium perfringens

Restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and other businesses that sell food must take precautions to prevent food from being contaminated. Staff working at these facilities should wash their hands frequently – especially after using the restroom. Meat should be cooked thoroughly, and cooked food and raw food should be kept separately. Perishable foods that require refrigeration should not be left out for more than a few hours.

When businesses fail to take precautions to prevent food poisoning, they may be held liable if a customer falls ill due to their negligence. Unfortunately, proving that a business is responsible for a customer’s illness is a difficult endeavor. Symptoms of foodborne illnesses may not appear for several days after the person eats the contaminated food. The restaurant or other business may try to claim that the person’s illness is unrelated to the food they ate at the establishment. A skilled lawyer experienced in food poisoning cases can help gather evidence of the restaurant’s culpability.

Damages in a Food Poisoning Case

Through a personal injury case, a food poisoning victim may be able to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages. He or she may be reimbursed for hospital bills, medication, and other medical costs as well as lost income from missed work. Compensation may also be available for non-financial consequences of the illness including the victim’s pain and suffering.

Contact a Champaign Food Poisoning Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered from severe food poisoning, contact Kanoski Bresney to discuss your legal options. Call our Springfield personal injury attorneys at 888-826-8682 for a free, confidential consultation.

Source:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20356230