Injuries from food contamination can be serious or fatal, which is why it is usually important to consider hiring a top food poisoning lawyer Hillcrest Heights MD offers. At Cohen & Cohen, our attorneys have helped injury victims for the last two decades. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients in the process of fighting on their behalf.
An experienced Hillcrest Heights MD food poisoning lawyer can help recover the costs from your food poisoning caused by someone else’s negligence. If you would like to discuss your case with one of our food poisoning attorneys at Cohen & Cohen P.C., call us today to schedule an appointment for a free, no obligation case review. The following information may be of interest if you have questions about food poisoning lawsuits or personal injury claims.
Contaminated Foods
Food poisoning is caused by ingesting food that is contaminated. Contaminated food may be served by a restaurant, hospital, school, grocery store, or other food retailer. A food poisoning lawyer in Hillcrest Heights MD may undergo an investigation to help determine the source of your food poisoning. Food may be contaminated by any of these common viruses or bacteria:
- Norwalk virus
- Salmonella
- Toxoplasma Gondii
- E. Coli
Common Symptoms and Causes of Food Poisoning
There are hundreds of possible bacterial strains and viruses that can cause foodborne illnesses or food poisoning. Only a qualified medical can perform and analyze tests that will indicate the exact cause. This information will likely be critical to your case, and after hiring a food poisoning lawyer Hillcrest Heights MD respects, you will probably need to present copies of your test results. Here are some of the most common food poisoning causes and symptoms:
- Salmonella. Symptoms include an overall feeling of unwellness and diarrhea
- E. Coli. Symptoms include diarrhea
- Botulism. Symptoms include constipation, dizziness, weakness, difficulty breathing or speaking, trouble swallowing, and double-vision
Liability in Food Poisoning Cases
Liability may be traced to various parties, depending on the nature of the food poisoning and the test results. A food poisoning lawyer Hillcrest Heights MD injury victims turn to may review your case to determine exactly who should be named as defendants. The attorneys of Cohen & Cohen might also investigate the circumstances of your food poisoning to see which parties should be held responsible, and under what laws. The kinds of defendants in cases like these are usually any combination of the following:
- Growers
- Farmers
- Shippers
- Packagers
- Sellers
- Distributors
Proving Liability in Food Poisoning Cases
A product liability lawsuit will likely bring a claim against the company that sold you the contaminated food that resulted in food poisoning. A food poisoning lawyer Hillcrest Heights MD relies on may not have to prove the seller was negligent — only that they are liable for injuries if you can demonstrate the following:
- They shipped or grew the contaminated food
- You consumed that contaminated food
- As a result of consuming this food, you suffered symptoms of illness
- A doctor diagnosed your illness as food poisoning caused by that food
- The timing of your symptoms coincided with the time you consumed the contaminated food
- They caused the contamination or else did not take reasonable precautions to prevent the contamination
Proving any of the following might further strengthen your case:
- A doctor diagnosed the cause of your illness as a particular virus, toxin, or bacteria
- The contaminated food contained the same virus, toxin, or bacteria
- The symptoms of your illness match those of someone who has eaten food contaminated with that particular virus, toxin, or bacteria
Steps that Food Poisoning Victims Should Probably Take
If you believe you’ve been the victim of food poisoning, taking the following steps may be beneficial:
1. Seek immediate medical attention. This is especially important if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Rapid heart rate
- Abdominal pain
- Disorientation or confusion
- Bloody diarrhea or vomit
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Dehydration
- Prolonged vomiting
3. Prevent dehydration by drinking lots of clear liquids. Do not consume alcohol, dairy or caffeine products, and do not consume solid food until the symptoms have stopped.
4. Unless a doctor tells you otherwise, do not take any anti-diarrhea medications.
5. Keep the packaging of the contaminated food. If there is any of the suspected food remaining, preserve it.
6. Keep all receipts and financial records related to the location you purchased the food.
7. Report the food poisoning to the appropriate government bodies, such as the local health department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, etc., as they may be able to test and/or inspect the source for additional contaminated food.
8. Contact the source: the restaurant, the food retailer, or the company that grew, prepared, or sold the contaminated food.
9. Take photographs of any suspect food. A food poisoning lawyer Hillcrest Heights MD provides may request photo or video documentation.
10. Ask anyone else who purchased the same food at the same time if they too experienced food poisoning. This may help narrow down the source and provide witness testimony as well. Be sure to get their contact information and request that they document their experience in writing for you. You will likely want to present that documentation to your food poisoning lawyer Hillcrest Heights MD recommends.
11. Write down everything you ate or drank in the 72 hours preceding your food poisoning experience. Also note the location, time and date as well.
12. Contact an experienced food poisoning lawyer Hillcrest Heights MD residents rely on for qualified legal representation. Before meeting with an attorney, be sure to have all your notes and receipts organized and in your possession.
If you’ve experienced food poisoning that resulted in a bodily injury, severe symptoms, or anaphylaxis shock, our law firm is here for you. Call us at Cohen & Cohen today to arrange a free, no obligation consultation with a qualified food poisoning lawyer Hillcrest Heights MD provides.
