If you’ve come down with food poisoning, you know it can disrupt your life with serious illness, lost wages, and unexpected medical bills. Although many people recover without complications, some endure hospital stays, long-term health issues, or worse. That raises a question: Should you hire a lawyer to handle your food poisoning claim?
Below is a quick look at when legal action might make sense, what compensation you could pursue, and when you may want to hire a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, MN, for help.
What Is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning (or “foodborne illness”) happens when you ingest harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Common culprits include salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. Mild cases involve vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain that clears up in a few days. However, severe infections can lead to dehydration, organ damage, or even death.
Typical causes of contamination include:
- Improper cooking temperatures: Undercooked poultry or ground meats
- Poor handling: Cross-contamination from raw foods or unsanitary equipment
- Storage violations: Leaving perishables unrefrigerated for too long
- Supplier negligence: If a producer ships tainted goods to restaurants or stores
Because multiple parties might handle the food before you eat it, pinpointing the exact cause can be challenging.
Can I Sue Over Food Poisoning?
In some cases, yes. Under personal injury law, you may have a claim if someone’s negligence caused you harm. With food poisoning, possible defendants include:
- Restaurants or catering services: If they failed to store or cook items properly
- Grocery stores: If they sold spoiled products or mishandled items
- Manufacturers: If the contamination started at the production plant
- Distributors or transporters: If they failed to keep goods refrigerated or safe during shipment
There are four legal elements required to prove negligence. These are duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
When Should You Hire a Lawyer?
Not all food poisoning incidents require legal help—mild cases often resolve quickly. However, consider a lawyer if:
- Illness is severe: Did you need hospitalization or miss extended time at work? More serious consequences can justify legal action.
- Multiple victims: Outbreaks at big restaurants or events can suggest a larger negligence problem.
- Pushback from insurers: If a restaurant, store, or manufacturer (or their insurer) denies liability or lowballs your claim, an attorney can help.
- Complex evidence: Proving which meal or item caused your infection often requires medical tests, lab analyses, or health department records. A lawyer coordinates these investigations.
Legal representation gives you a better shot at fair compensation.
Potential Compensation
Food poisoning victims can potentially recover both economic and non-economic damages for their losses and suffering:
- Economic damages: Hospital bills, follow-up care, prescription costs, and any lost wages or reduced earning ability from long-term complications.
- Non-economic damages: Pain, discomfort, anxiety, and impact on your quality of life if your illness was severe.
In rare cases, courts might award punitive damages to punish especially reckless behavior.
If you’ve suffered food poisoning that caused lasting harm, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain. Proving a contamination claim isn’t always straightforward, though. Finding the exact culprit might require lab tests, expert reports, and other evidence.
A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can help every step of the way. Reach out to an attorney today for a free consultation and get the help you need to protect your rights and well-being.
Contact the Minnesota Personal Injury Law Firm of Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys For Help Today
For more information, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Minnesota, including Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Edina.
We proudly serve Hennepin County, Stearns County, and its surrounding areas:
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Minneapolis
825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 615
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(800) 292-1979
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 44.97514068188609, -93.27349979814521
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – St. Cloud
1010 W St Germain St # 320
St Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 255-1000
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 45.55903612908877, -94.16420517306956
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Edina
5200 Willson Rd #203
Edina, MN 55424
(952) 697-5560
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 44.90963991439301, -93.34937342327198
