Can you get compensation for food poisoning?

If you have suffered food poisoning due to the negligence of others, then you might be able to make a successful food poisoning compensation claim. When you eat out at a restaurant, bar, café, hotel, or other establishment that provides food, you expect it to be safe to eat. However, in some cases, the food you eat can result in food poisoning, and you may be able to make a food poisoning compensation claim. Millions of people suffer from food poisoning at some point in their lives, with many unaware that they could make a successful food poisoning compensation claim. If you have suffered from food poisoning due to the negligence of others, then keep on reading. Graysons’ team of personal injury solicitors in Sheffield and Chesterfield answers some of the most common questions regarding food poisoning compensation claims.

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning is an illness that results from eating poorly prepared, contaminated, or uncooked food. Food poisoning can be extremely serious for some people and may even result in hospitalisation, a prolonged recovery period, and in extreme cases may lead to death. In others, it can result in a relatively mild illness for several days. Food poisoning can be caused by bacteria including salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter, and shigella. Other food poisonings may be caused by parasites , such as giardia and cryptosporidiosis. Viral conditions may also result in food poisoning, including rotavirus and norovirus. Whether you have had food poisoning caused by a viral, bacterial or parasitic condition, if it has been due to the negligence of others, then you may be able to make a successful food poisoning compensation claim.

 

What are food poisoning symptoms?

Common food poisoning symptoms include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, aching muscles, lack of energy, and stomach cramps. Some people may also develop a fever. Symptoms usually start within 24 hours of eating the food that caused the infection. However, symptoms can start within just a few hours or take several days to develop. The length of time it takes to develop symptoms and the severity of the symptoms will depend on the type of food poisoning. Most people recover from a bout of food poisoning within a few days; however, some people can become seriously ill and require hospitalisation.

 

What is the medical advice for food poisoning?

If you have food poisoning, you should rest at home and drink plenty of fluids. If your symptoms do not ease within three days, or if you are pregnant, elderly, or have a long-term underlying condition such as kidney disease, diabetes or cancer, you should seek medical advice from your doctor.

 

What treatment is there for food poisoning?

In most cases, food poisoning will clear within a few days on its own, with the best treatment being plenty of rest and fluids. However, if symptoms do not ease in a few days, your doctor may be able to prescribe antibiotics. In more severe cases, you may be admitted to hospital.

 

Can you sue a food company for food poisoning?

Yes, you can sue a food company for compensation for food poisoning if the food poisoning  results from their negligence. This may include large chains, such as McDonalds, Nandos, and Tesco, or small independent outlets. You can bring a food compensation claim against any food outlet or even a friend who negligently makes you ill at a dinner party.  You will be able to claim for your pain and suffering, as well as any financial losses, including the costs of treatment and any  lost earnings. If you want to make a food poisoning compensation claim, you should work with an experienced personal injury lawyer, such as Graysons’  solicitors in Sheffield and Chesterfield.

 

Can I claim compensation for food poisoning?

Yes, you can claim compensation for food poisoning. If you have been served food in a restaurant, hotel, café, bar, or any other similar establishment that serves food and have suffered food poisoning as a result, then you will be able to make  a personal injury claim.

 

How can I prove that I have food poisoning?

Food poisoning can usually be proved by a stool or blood sample, identifying the relevant food poisoning bacteria, virus, or parasites. Therefore, you must visit a hospital or GP for diagnosis and treatment, which will provide  vital  evidence in a food poisoning compensation claim. Visit as soon as possible as the bacteria, virus, or parasites will probably  be in your system for just a few days. You should also keep any suspect food,  the packaging and relevant receipts, names and contact details of any witnesses, as well as a list of all food items you ate before becoming ill. All of this evidence will be used by an experienced personal injury solicitor to make a successful claim.

 

Who is liable for food poisoning?

Food poisoning compensation law is governed by the Consumer Protection Act 1987, which states that  food retailers must provide food free from any harmful bacteria. If an outlet has failed to do this, then they are liable, even if it cannot be proved that they did anything wrong during the food preparation process. If you have suffered food poisoning due to the negligence of others, then you should contact an experienced food poisoning compensation solicitor, such as Graysons’ team of solicitors in Sheffield and Chesterfield.

 

How long does a food poisoning compensation claim take?

How long a food poisoning compensation claim takes will depend on the complexity of the claim and whether liability is accepted or denied. In straightforward cases where liability is accepted, a food poisoning compensation claim could be settled within just a few  months. However, if liability is denied, it could take substantially longer. An experienced personal injury solicitor will be able to advise on how long a claim is likely to take and work on your behalf to ensure the very best food poisoning compensation payout.

 

Will I have to go to court for a food poisoning compensation claim?

It is highly unlikely you will have to go to court in a food poisoning compensation claim. However, in the unlikely event that the claim did end up in court, an experienced personal injury specialist, such as Graysons’ team of Sheffield and Chesterfield solicitors, will be able to represent you.

 

How much compensation am I entitled to for a food poisoning claim

The amount of food poisoning compensation you will be entitled to will depend on the severity of the food poisoning, your pain and suffering, and any financial losses  that you may have suffered as  a direct result of the food poisoning. Every claim is individual,  so it is impossible to put a precise figure on how much you might get. Some food poisoning compensation awards  might be for just a couple of thousand pounds, while others may be  significantly more, especially those in cases involving  a high degree of pain and suffering and lost income as a result of being too ill to work. Working with an experienced food poisoning compensation solicitor will help ensure you receive the highest amount of compensation possible.

 

How can Graysons’ personal injury solicitors in Sheffield and Chesterfield help me with a food poisoning claim?

Making a food poisoning compensation claim is a specialised area of the law, so working with an experienced personal injury solicitor makes sense. Graysons’ team of solicitors in Sheffield and Chesterfield will be able to assess your claim and advise if it is worth pursuing. Our team of legal specialists work on a no win no fee basis and will make sure you receive the very best compensation possible. If you want to make a food poisoning compensation claim, then contact our team of Sheffield and Chesterfield solicitors today.