You may be shocked to learn that a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) showed that 47.8 million people per year in the United States experience food-borne illnesses with approximately 127,839 of those people being hospitalized, and approximately 3,037 deaths occurring. Those numbers are shocking.
Let’s take a closer look at food poisoning and if anybody is liable when it occurs. We have heard of outbreaks on the news which have made words like “salmonella” and “e. coli” household words, but there are plenty of other pathogens that can also cause what we commonly refer to as “food poisoning.”
Side Effects of Food Poisoning
Many of us have experienced it at some point in our lives. Your stomach churns, you may have vomiting or diarrhea, and you may even have a fever. A simple case of food poisoning may only last a day or two, but it is definitely not fun. Most often, we are unable to trace back the origin of the food poisoning. You might think that it had to be undercooked meat or that something would taste funny if it could make you sick, but that is not always the case.
What Causes It?
Sometimes it IS a simple mistake, like undercooked meat. Sometimes contamination happens to a crop of lettuce or other produce through no human fault. Other times, there is a major issue such as a packaging plant that is not meeting industry standards or laws that are in place to protect the public from contamination. When these issues are discovered and recalls are issued, it is imperative to heed these recalls! Your life could literally depend on it.
Can You Trace It?
We eat a variety of foods all day long, so it is often not possible to trace the cause of food poisoning in a particular individual. However, occasionally, as mentioned above, a known item is contaminated and the public is informed. If you have experienced food poisoning and are better in a day or two, chalk it up to being a human. It happens to many of us. However, if you or a loved one is hospitalized, then that is a more serious situation. If you were hospitalized or a loved one was hospitalized or died from a food-borne illness, there may be someone who must be held liable. While this is not always the case, it is our job to find out for you.
When Should You Call a Personal Injury Lawyer?
At Nance Cacciatore Law the burden of proof is not on you. Our personal injury attorneys are retired law enforcement officials who know how to properly and thoroughly conduct investigations. If you have a legitimate lawsuit regarding food poisoning, we will be able to establish a solid case for you. You do not pay us anything unless your case is won. We have decades of experience and treat our clients with respect and dignity. Our personal injury law firm is located in Melbourne, FL, and we serve the areas throughout Brevard County. Let us be your personal injury attorneys of choice. We believe that you will be glad that you did!
