If you have ever had a food borne illness, you know exactly how intense and traumatic the experience can be. But food poisoning doesn’t just make you extremely ill, it may also make you feel a little betrayed since an eating establishment’s primary responsibility is to provide a well-cooked, hygienic meal that won’t make you sick. So, when you suffer from food poisoning after eating out, you might be wondering if someone should be held accountable for your illness.

There are several courses of action one can take after becoming a victim of restaurant food poisoning. One possibility is to make a personal injury claim to recover compensation for damages and losses incurred as a result of the illness, such as hospital bills, pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages. Continue reading to learn more about food borne sickness, and how you might move forward with an accident/negligence claim.

There are More Than 250 Known Foodborne Illnesses:

According to the CDC, an estimated 48 million people per year get sick from a foodborne illness, of which 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die. Foodborne illnesses come from ingesting either food or beverage that has been contaminated with bacteria, parasites, virus, or toxins. Most often, this type of contamination occurs as a result of poor or improper producing, 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. The standard symptoms from eating contaminated food include nausea, abdominal cramping, headache, and diarrhea. More severe symptoms may include vomiting, excessive diarrhea, high fever, loss of speech, difficulty breathing or swallowing, dehydration, and in rare cases, even death.

As for making a valid claim for food poisoning, the severity of symptoms will influence the outcome. Minor cases of food borne illness are not likely to be strong candidates for an injury claim since such symptoms can be treated with ample fluids and rest, which takes around one to three days. However, more severe cases might involve doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription medication, prolonged rehabilitation, time off work, and more. This is where a seasoned personal injury attorney can step in and help you recover full and fair compensation you deserve for your losses and damages.

If You Have Food Poisoning:

If you or a loved one becomes ill from a restaurant food borne illness, immediately seek medical attention. During your visit, request to have the illnesses medically confirmed by means of stool samples and more. These records are evidence of the incident that can be used to support your case later on. Furthermore, be sure to follow all instructions handed down from the medical professionals treating you.

If possible, save the contaminated food for testing and have the local health department immediately perform the testing. Directly following your doctor’s visit, it is recommended to keep a daily journal of all your symptoms in great detail. This date can also be used as evidence to support your personal injury claim. Contact a licensed and experienced Indianapolis personal injury law firm to learn more about making a claim for food poisoning.

Your Trusted Personal Injury Law Firm:

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 in Indianapolis, Indiana if you were injured as a result of a severe foodborne illness Indiana. Our personal injury attorneys have extensive trial and litigation experience and know how to recover the compensation you deserve. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we win your settlement. Call today to schedule your appointment.