Every once and a while it’s a nice treat to go out and have a nice meal at a restaurant. As a customer, you have every right to assume that the restaurant and its staff will prepare and cook your food properly to avoid contamination. However, after consuming a meal, you may develop symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and chills which are all indicative of food poisoning. Unfortunately, when restaurants do not correctly store food or cook food thoroughly, food poisoning can result. In most cases of food poisoning, the food is contaminated by bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), salmonella, or noroviruses. Although food poisoning typically passes after a few days, more severe cases can lead to serious complications and permanent damage. If you have been burdened with significant losses as a result of a foodborne illness, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Keep reading to learn whether you can file a personal injury lawsuit for food poisoning and discover how a skilled Morris County Personal Injury Attorney can help you today.
Can I hold a restaurant legally responsible for food poisoning?
If you want to file a personal injury claim for a foodborne illness such as food poisoning, you must prove that the food served at the restaurant made you sick. To do this, you will have to prove that you were diagnosed with food poisoning by a medical professional, you ate food from the restaurant, and your illness has caused you significant harm. Illness-related personal injury cases are more complex and require a lot of evidence. That being said, you will need to retain appropriate legal representation as your attorney will be able to help you protect your legal rights. This includes ensuring a stool sample has been tested to determine the specific pathogen that made you sick. It is critical to determine the specific pathogen and bacteria that made you sick as the food and surfaces of the restaurant can be tested for the same pathogen. If the same bacteria is found, it can link the illness to the restaurant. Therefore, you will be able to hold the restaurant legally accountable for the damages stemming from your foodborne illness.
If you have become ill as a result of consuming contaminated food at a restaurant, it is in your best interest to contact one of our determined and trusted team members as soon as possible. With years of experience, our firm can walk you through this complex process. Our firm is prepared to work tirelessly to help you seek fair compensation for your damages. Contact us today so our firm can help you get the justice.