Can I Sue an Illinois Restaurant for Giving Me Food Poisoning?

 Posted on March 26, 2024 in Personal Injury

Dining out is an experience that many people enjoy, but this experience can quickly turn sour if you experience food poisoning after eating in a restaurant. It may be possible to sue an Illinois restaurant for giving you food poisoning, though these cases may be difficult and require proof of the restaurant’s negligence in their food handling or preparation procedures. An experienced Illinois personal injury attorney can help you navigate this process as you pursue a claim.

Serious Consequences of Food Poisoning

The majority of foodborne illnesses are preventable, and negligence or recklessness from a restaurant involved in the preparation or serving of food typically results in food poisoning. Not following federal and state safety standards, failure to wash hands, especially after using the bathroom, failing to cook food properly, and leaving perishable items out on counters before preparation can all contribute to bacterial growth and eventual foodborne illnesses.

The consequences of food poisoning range from mild illnesses to severe symptoms. Although healthy people typically overcome food poisoning, they too can get very sick. Vulnerable people, like the elderly, young, and immunocompromised, especially face serious consequences. These include:

• Vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever

• Extended illness, including long-term exposure to antibiotics and the negative consequences those can cause 

• Hospitalization, which can lead to hospital-acquired infections

• Life-threatening dehydration

• Wrongful death

Long-term illness, hospitalization, and wrongful death have severe impacts on not only the person who becomes ill, but also on his or her loved ones. In the most serious cases, lawsuits to help victims and their families recover compensation from the restaurant may be the most appropriate remedy for food poisoning. 

Pursuing a Food Poisoning Injury Claim Against an Illinois Restaurant

If you have been hospitalized for severe food poisoning, you already know that in addition to the many medical bills you have, you might also be struggling with lost wages and emotional trauma from your experience. You may understandably want to know if you can take action to recover compensation for the damages you have suffered. 

An essential part of pursuing your claim against an Illinois restaurant is identifying the liable party and proving that the restaurant’s negligent or reckless actions caused your food poisoning illness.

If you have not done so already, you should file a report with the Illinois Department of Health and contact an experienced Illinois personal injury lawyer. Your attorney can help you gather evidence and build a timeline of your food poisoning case in addition to working with medical and food safety experts on your behalf.

Contact a Rockford, IL Personal Injury Attorney

Food poisoning cases are often severe, and this is not an illness that should be taken lightly. If you have experienced food poisoning due to the negligent acts of a restaurant or other establishment, you may be able to sue for compensation. A skilled Winnebago County, IL personal injury lawyer at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law can help you understand your legal options.

Our attorneys are very knowledgeable in personal injury law and have a long record of success, including several multi-million dollar settlements. Call 815-215-7561 for a free consultation.