Food poisoning is a broad term for all the illnesses that can come from eating contaminated food. It is caused by consuming food infected with viruses, bacteria, parasites, or toxins. Food poisoning can range in severity from mild nausea that resolves without medical intervention to severe symptoms that necessitate hospital admission. If you’ve been the victim of food poisoning, a Chicago food poisoning lawyer can help.
If you’ve had food poisoning while eating food you considered to be safe on someone else’s property, call our Chicago premises liability lawyers at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. right away. Our attorneys can help determine who is at fault for your illness and hold the negligible party accountable.
Call us today at (312) 236-2900 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Food Poisoning in Illinois
Food poisoning occurs when food infected by a virus, a bacterium, or a parasite begins to develop inside the food. Either the infecting agent itself or the toxins it produces can cause an illness. This can occur at any point in the food production process from initial creation to final preparation, and it can happen in a factory, a kitchen, or a vehicle transporting ingredients.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Typically, symptoms of food poisoning begin to manifest several hours after eating contaminated food. Each infecting agent presents itself a little differently than another, and different people exposed to the same infecting agent will not necessarily show identical symptoms. There are, however, broadly common symptoms that can help you identify if you have been a victim of food poisoning:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
When to Seek Medical Attention
Many cases of food poisoning resolve themselves without the need for medical intervention. This is not always the case, however, and there are certain signs you should watch for to determine if you need to seek medical attention:
- Frequent vomiting, or the inability to keep liquids down
- Diarrhea that persists for several days
- A temperature higher than 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit
- Severe pain or abdominal cramping
- Blood in your vomit or stool
- Dehydration
- Blurry vision, muscle fatigue, tingling in your extremities, or other neurological symptoms
Who’s At-Fault in Food Poisoning Cases
Because food poisoning can happen anywhere in the food production process, determining fault can be tricky. A thorough investigation is necessary including an expert testing of food materials.
If you contracted food poisoning after eating at a restaurant, the restaurant could be at fault, along with one or more of their suppliers if particular ingredients are found infected.
If you contracted food poisoning at home, you may not be responsible if you followed the correct directions. If an ingredient you used was contaminated, the ingredient manufacturer may be liable for your illness. If this is the case, you should contact our Chicago product liability lawyers to discuss your legal options.
Compensation for Chicago Food Poisoning
If it’s being tried on an individual basis, food poisoning may simply involve you suing a restaurant through a premises liability claim. This would be appropriate if the facts reveal that the ingredients were safe, but they were improperly cooked for your dish.
If a large number of people have contracted food poisoning from eating the same food or ingredient, the lawsuit may become a class action, which happens when a large number of people suffer the same injury from the same defendant. Class-action lawsuits are common when manufacturers contaminate a large amount of their product such as in food recalls.
If you have been the victim of food poisoning, and the evidence demonstrates that you aren’t at fault for it, you may be eligible to recover the full cost of any medical bills incurred as the result of the food poisoning, lost wages for any days of work missed, compensation for any permanent damages or injuries, and pain and suffering.
Because food poisoning can be severe, it can cost you quite a lot. If you or a loved one has experienced a financial loss due to food poisoning, call us at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. today. We can review the details of your case and determine if you are entitled to recover compensation for your injuries and damages.
Contact Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. Today
If you or a loved one has been the victim of food poisoning, contact a Chicago food poisoning lawyer at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. today. Our knowledgeable attorneys have extensive experience dealing with food poisoning lawsuits, and we will do everything we can to help you with your case.
We will begin by investigating the facts of your case in order to determine fault. If the evidence demonstrates that your injuries were caused due to the fault of someone else, we can review your legal options with you and assist you in seeking the recovery you deserve.
Call us right away at (312) 236-2900 to schedule a free case evaluation.
