When Can You Sue A Restaurant For Food Poisoning?

Eating in a restaurant should be an enjoyable experience. But if you get food poisoning after eating at a restaurant, you may be feeling frustrated, angry, and confused. In many cases, food poisoning is caused by contaminated food that was served in the restaurant.

If this happens to you, then you may have the right to sue the restaurant for damages. Our Seattle restaurant injury lawyers at Emerald Law Group can explain when it’s appropriate to file a lawsuit against a restaurant for food poisoning and what steps you can take to protect your rights and interests.

When Do You Have Grounds to Sue?

Food poisoning is usually caused by bacteria or viruses that contaminate food before it is served in the restaurant. If you become ill after eating food from a restaurant and can prove that the cause of the illness was contamination from bacteria or viruses present in the food served by the restaurant, then you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the establishment. You must also prove that any injury or illness suffered as a result of consuming contaminated food was due to negligence on behalf of the restaurateur or their employees.

Fact: According to the Centers for Disease Control, 128,000 Americans get hospitalized and 3,000 others die from food poisoning and foodborne diseases.

Gathering Evidence

No one should ever suffer from food poisoning due to negligence on behalf of businesses such as restaurants. If this has happened to you, there may be legal recourses available to seek compensation for associated damages such as hospital bills and lost wages.

In order to successfully sue a restaurant for food poisoning, it is important that you gather evidence as soon as possible. Collecting medical records from your doctor showing that you were diagnosed with food poisoning can help establish your case against the defendant.

Additionally, it is important to take photos of any evidence related to your illness such as spoiled or contaminated foods purchased at restaurants. Finally, if there were witnesses present when you consumed contaminated foods at the time of purchase or if other people reported getting sick after consuming similar foods purchased at the same location, be sure to document their names and contact information as they may serve as witnesses should your case go to court.

Should You Hire a Lawyer?

Once you have gathered all necessary evidence related to your case, it is important that you hire an experienced personal injury lawyer who specializes in representing individuals who have been victims of negligent behavior on behalf of businesses such as restaurants.

Your attorney will be able to assess whether or not your case stands up in court and guide you through each step of filing your lawsuit against the defendant(s). They will also work closely with medical professionals and other experts who can provide more detailed information about how poor hygiene practices within restaurants can lead to contamination which causes illnesses like food poisoning.

Consult with an Attorney

Because each case is unique, it is important that anyone thinking about bringing forward a lawsuit against the restaurant consults with an experienced attorney who understands how complex these types of cases can be. Reach out to our attorneys at Emerald Law Group to discuss your case and determine if you have grounds to sue the restaurant for food poisoning. Call 206-826-5160 to receive a free case evaluation.