Food poisoning claims and lawsuits have been rising in the past decade. The increasing number of people getting sick and suing makes it a serious problem for food companies
Food poisoning is a condition that affects your stomach and intestines. It has many different causes, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. You can get food poisoning from eating contaminated meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, or fruits. Chemicals added to food to preserve it or change its taste can also cause food poisoning.
Although food poisoning usually goes away on its own and does not cause long-term health problems, it can be dangerous for babies and young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
The symptoms of food poisoning include abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and fever.
Food poisoning cases are slowly becoming extremely common, with an estimated 76 million Americans suffering from foodborne illness each year. The cost of food poisoning cases has increased steadily over the last decade and has reached approximately $77 billion in 2021.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that about 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food every year. One hundred twenty-eight thousand will be hospitalized, and 3,000 will die from the illness of those who get sick. A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that between 1990 and 2006, the frequency of reported outbreaks due to Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria has increased dramatically.
Due to a general lack of awareness and lax regulatory policies, it is increasingly difficult to hold manufacturers responsible for their products.
As stated above, food poisoning has become a relatively common complaint and has been rising in recent years. And it’s not just the sick people that are taking notice. Restaurants and food suppliers have also begun to notice, as they are frequently the target of lawsuits and claims.
Food poisoning claims have cost billions of dollars in settlement fees and other damages in the US alone. A major reason for this is proving who was responsible for the disease outbreak. Since food safety issues are typically very complicated, it’s usually difficult to pinpoint exactly how or where a person acquired an infection.
Is a Food Poisoning related illness eligible for Compensation?
Food poisoning can be a very serious and even fatal problem. It is an extremely difficult problem that is only getting worse with time. Some of the most common causes of food poisoning include eating food that has not been cooked sufficiently, eating spoiled food, eating food from a dirty kitchen, or eating at a restaurant that does not have proper health and safety standards in place.
If you end up sick after eating out, and the restaurant has violated health codes or has been negligent in preparing your food, then you may be able to file a claim for food poisoning. Therefore, yes, you can demand Compensation for food poisoning.
How to file a Food Poisoning Claim?
- Step 1: Get proper Medical Help.
Food poisoning is problematic if not taken care of promptly. It can lead to dehydration, severe infection, etc. Hence, it is crucial to get yourself checked as soon as possible. Further, the medical report and the extent of your damages will determine your settlement.
- Step 2: Contact the Restaurant and collect evidence.
The first thing to do is to contact the restaurant or food seller. You can either call them, leave a message on their website, or email them. But if you don’t get a response from them, you should send them a registered letter by mail.
Collect all the necessary evidence such as the ingredients they use, if other customers were infected, etc.
- Step 3: Contact an experienced Personal Injury Attorney.
There are two different claims that you can file if you’ve contracted food poisoning: product liability and medical malpractice. Your Food Poisoning Attorney will look at your situation and suggest what will be the best option for you.
When it comes to food poisoning, you must understand your legal rights and the process of trying to collect Compensation. Filing a claim can be intimidating, but looking at the situation from a logical standpoint and having an attorney on your side, you’ll likely find that filing a claim is not very difficult. To get professional help, learn more about our services, and understand how we can help you file a food poisoning claim, please visit our Garcia & Phan Southern California Personal Injury Lawyers website!
Call 714.586.8298 to book your free consultation today.
