Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, can be caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses or chemicals present in food that is consumed. The contamination of food can result from unsanitary conditions, improper handling, improper food preparation, or improper storage.
If you have ever had food poisoning, you understand it is no laughing matter. Our Boca Raton food poisoning attorneys help clients who have suffered a foodborne illness file a lawsuit against a restaurant or food manufacturing company. If you have fallen ill or suffered health complications due to poorly prepared or maintained food, contact Accident Attorneys Boca Raton for a free consultation today.
Signs and Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, fever, headache and fatigue. These symptoms are usually experienced within 48 hours of consuming contaminated food. Foodborne illnesses can cause serious health problems and even death, especially for those with weaker immune systems, pregnant women, the young, and the elderly.
In a food poisoning case, seeking treatment as soon as possible is critically important. A case in which a doctor states you have “symptoms of food poisoning” is quite different than a case where a doctor diagnoses you with food poisoning. The defendant’s strongest argument is usually that the plaintiff cannot definitely “prove that we were the cause of the plaintiff’s illness.”
Steps to Take to Help Prove Your Boca Raton Food Poisoning Case
Some of the most common causes of food poisoning are botulism, salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter, parasites, hepatitis A, trichinosis, and norovirus. Restaurants, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and food processors may be held liable for injuries and deaths that result from food poisoning.
If you become sick as a result of food poisoning in Boca Raton Florida, you should take the following steps as soon as possible:
- See a doctor.
- Save what is left of the food so that it can be analyzed.
- Report the incident to your local Department of Health.
- Save all written evidence of purchase such as receipts and checks.
- Obtain names and phone numbers of all witnesses.
- Notify the food seller of the purchase and the illness and make a note of the name and position of the person notified.
- Contact a lawyer at the Schwechter Law Group to represent you if you have medical bills or other bills associated with your injury.
Common Types of Food Poisoning in Florida
- Botulism
- Campylobacter jejuni
- E. coli
- Hepatitis A
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Salmonella
Most foodborne illnesses happen due to a series of errors leading to contamination. Here are a few tips that may prevent sickness, or help identify the cause of your food poisoning in Boca Raton:
- When you are grocery shopping, look for food with an expiration date as far in the future as possible.
- Do not buy fruits such as cantaloupe, peaches, plums, and nectarines if you cannot smell them. They were probably picked too early and may never ripen.
- Wash hands in hot, soapy water before and after preparing food and using the restroom.
- Don’t cross-contaminate food products. Use separate cutting boards and knives for different foods-this is especially true for meats, poultry and seafood.
- Wash utensils and cutting boards thoroughly after raw food items come in contact with them. Never re-use a plate or utensil before washing it.
- If a food item does not have an expiration date or does not visibly spoil, label it with masking tape and the date by which you want to use it.
- Most of the time, dangerous food, such as spinach contaminated with E. coli, looks, smells, and tastes fine. This is why it is important to make sure that food is thoroughly cooked and prepared.
- If mold on a food item is black, throw it out. Experts suggest that if mold is blue, green, or white, cut the mold out down to about an inch away from the affected area and throw it away as soon as possible. If the item is kept in a container with other food, clean or switch the container to prevent mold from spreading.
- If you get sick, try to preserve the evidence, if possible.
If you are one of the thousands of people sickened each year by food poisoning, you already know how seriously ill you can become after eating tainted food. Foodborne illness and food poisoning can make you sick for days, put you in the hospital, and sometimes, it is even fatal. It is vital that you contact a Boca Raton personal injury lawyer to explore your legal options.
Call Our Boca Raton Food Poisoning Lawyers If You Suffered a Foodborne Illness
If you, or someone you care about, are the victim of a foodborne illness, you need a Las Vegas food poisoning lawyer who understands food poisoning cases. That’s why you want the Boca Raton food poisoning lawyers from Accident Attorneys Boca Raton on your side.
Our law firm has experience representing the victims of national and local outbreaks of tainted food. Whatever the foodborne illness, we’ll help you fight to get the compensation you deserve. Serious illness demands serious action.