Even in this country, the toll of death and disease linked to contaminated, adulterated, or negligently prepared food is substantial and greatly under appreciated by most consumers. There are at least 31 different pathogens including bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi known to cause food borne illness. According to estimates released in 2011 by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six Americans or 48 million people get sick with a food borne illness each year. Most food poisoning is sporadic and involves one individual becoming sick from an adulterated food source. However, between 400-500 outbreaks of food borne illness are investigated by local and state health departments in this country each year. These food poisoning outbreaks can involve as few as 2-3 people, or as many as several thousand victims.
Adulterated Foods
Personal Injury Deserves Personal ServiceFigure out if the illness that affected you came from infected food or a sick employee. If you caught a sickness that an employee had, you could be entitled to more compensation. Because restaurants are heavily regulated and inspected to prevent the spread of disease, allowing a sick employee to work may be a punishable offense. If you can prove that you were ill because of a sick employee and if the restaurant has a history of allowing sick employees to work, the restaurant may have to pay you additional punitive damages.
Food contamination injuries can be extremely serious and can affect nearly anyone. In some cases, victims may experience intense physical discomfort and may incur significant medical expenses. In many cases, the assistance of an experienced lawyer can help victims establish exactly what meal caused their injury, making it possible to hold the party responsible for their injuries legally responsible.