For some, food poisoning can be a minor blip. But for others, particularly the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems, food poisoning can be severe. Food contamination due to someone’s negligence complicates the matter further.
If you have suffered complications from food poisoning or lost a loved one and it was due to mishandling of the food or another form of negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against all responsible parties with the help of an experienced Minneapolis food poisoning lawyer.
Food Poisoning Litigation: When to Seek More than Medical Attention
The Onset of Severe Symptoms
Food poisoning can result in painful symptoms:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Stomach cramps
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
And severe symptoms:
- Frequent vomiting and inability to keep liquids down
- Blood in vomit or toilet
- Extreme abdominal pain
- Fever over 100F or 38C
- Extreme dehydration: thirst, dry mouth, no urination, weakness, dizziness, and lightheadedness
- Neurological symptoms: blurry vision, muscle weakness, and arm tingling
Food poisoning can have tragic consequences regardless of the situation, your age, or the status of your health. If you or a loved one suffers severe symptoms or they last longer than usual, it may be time to call a lawyer.
Anyone manufacturing, selling, cooking, and serving food must avoid actions that can lead to food-borne illness, such as cross-contamination. If they don’t, we might be able to help hold them responsible, especially if you’ve incurred medical expenses, lost wages, and suffered other monetary damages.
Long-Term Consequences
For some, the consequences of food poisoning are permanent, extensive, and potentially fatal. It depends on your exposure and your body’s reaction to the contamination. E. coli, for instance, can cause kidney failure or hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in children. Salmonella can cause chronic reactive arthritis, which can last for months, years, or a lifetime of joint pain after a single exposure. Listeria, perhaps the nastiest of the three, can lead to brain and nerve damage in the form of meningitis, and exposed newborns may develop intellectual disabilities, seizures, paralysis, blindness, or deafness.
Food Poisoning Outbreaks
E. coli outbreaks can cause multiple individuals to become ill. When many individuals become sick or die from the illness, there may be numerous lawsuits or class action lawsuits. Those affected deserve compensation for the damages done to them.
What Evidence Do I Need for a Food Poising Case?
People don’t sue for a couple of days of upset stomach. However, you will need protection from medical bills should food poisoning result in severe or long-term conditions. If that’s the case, call a personal damages lawyer who can take on the restaurant, manufacturer, or individual at fault. At the same time, collect proof of your illness and of negligence. Here’s what you’ll want to document and keep readily available:
- Professional medical diagnosis
- Evidence connecting the establishment and your illness
- Documentation that your condition caused you actual harm
- Proof that negligence was the cause of the food poisoning
Always Be Prepared
Keep restaurant receipts six weeks after each dining experience so you have proof of patronage if slow-onset illnesses like Hepatitis A develop. If you feel incredibly ill or remain so for longer than two days, see a doctor immediately for a professional diagnosis. This diagnosis can help inform if you need to call a food poisoning lawyer and serve as evidence in the future.
How a Food Poisoning Lawyer Helps
Our Minnesota food poisoning lawyer can examine contributing factors: epidemiology, microbiology, food safety, sanitation, and agricultural aspects to connect the contamination and illness as we build the most substantial claim possible.
Your Minnesota E. coli Lawyer
E. coli poisoning often results from contaminated or incorrectly prepared or cleaned foods. For some, this poisoning can cause serious complications, including heart attacks, kidney failure, or death.
If you have become seriously ill from E. coli or lost a loved one because someone was negligent in handling food, you may be able to hold them liable with the help of an E. coli lawyer.
Minneapolis & St. Paul Food Poisoning Lawyer
If you have been made sick or a loved one has passed away from food poisoning due to someone’s negligence, you may be able to hold them liable. And we’d like to help you do so.
Swor & Gatto’s attorneys have protected victims in all forms for over 30 years. If you or someone you know suffers severe symptoms from a foodborne illness in Minnesota, call Swor & Gatto at 651-454-3600 for a free consultation.