Did you recently experience a traumatic fit of food poisoning at a local restaurant? If so, you may feel quite betrayed by the establishment since their duty is to ensure their food is safe to consume. For this reason, you may feel compelled to make a personal injury claim and recover compensation for your hospital bills, medical expenses, and the wages you lost from missing work due to your illness. However, in order for food poisoning to be a valid claim, certain facts must be in order.
Continue reading to learn more about this particular food borne illness, and how it might lead to a valid personal injury case or claim.
A person gets foodborne illnesses by ingesting either food or beverage that has been contaminated with bacteria, parasites, virus, or toxins. This is generally a result of poor or improper growing, shipping, or handling of food products. Common types of illnesses contracted in this way include E. Coli, Hepatitis A, Listeria, Salmonella, Botulism, Norovirus, and Campylobacter.
Foodborne illnesses like this can cause a person several types of damages, from lost wages at work, to medical bills, and more. So when a person suffers from this type of illnesses after eating out at a restaurant or another person’s home, you can understand why there is a relative question regarding personal injury claims as well.
Severity of Illness
The severity of the affects largely influences the chances of having a valid personal injury claim for food poisoning. The standard symptoms of eating tainted food include nausea, abdominal cramping, headache, and diarrhea; while more serious cases include symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, loss of speech, difficulty breathing or swallowing, dehydration, and in rare cases, even death.
The less serious cases of food borne illness are not likely great candidates for an injury claim, since these can be treated with ample fluids and rest. The body will simply eliminate everything and then fluids can be restored. This usually takes around one to three days.
More severe cases might involve doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription medication, prolonged rehabilitation, time off work, and more. This is where a licensed personal injury lawyer can come into play, and help victims recover full and fair compensation for their damages.
Legal Claims
If you or a loved one becomes ill from eating food at a professional establishment or another person’s home, it is important to deal with the health concerns first. Once you are treated by a licensed medical professional, be sure to follow all instructions handed down from them. It is also helpful to save the contaminated food for testing, if possible. It is recommended to keep a daily journal detailing your symptoms and struggles.
Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers Who Can Help
Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, are motivated to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after experiencing a severe food-borne illness in a local restaurant. Call 317-881-2700 to get started today.