Louisiana Food Poisoning Lawyer
From farm to table, food can be contaminated anywhere in the production chain. Bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants can cause serious and even fatal illnesses. Our experienced Louisiana food poisoning lawyers at Shamieh Law help food poisoning victims fight for justice and accountability. Let us put our experience to work defending your right to compensation.
Unfortunately, food poisoning is quite common. In the United States, about one out of every six people gets sick from foodborne illnesses yearly. These illnesses range from mild to life-threatening—as many as 9,000 people die each year from foodborne illnesses.
When these illnesses are caused by carelessness, the responsible parties should be held accountable for the harm they have caused. If you become ill from eating contaminated food, the compensation you may receive can be substantial. Contact our skilled Louisiana food poisoning lawyers at Shamieh Law to learn more in your free, no-obligation consultation.
What Causes Food Contamination?
Food poisoning occurs when someone becomes ill from eating contaminated food. Most often, the contamination is from bacteria and viruses, but other parasites, molds, minerals, or chemicals can also contaminate food. Contamination can occur at any stage of the food production chain: growing, harvesting, processing, distributing, prepping, cooking, and serving.
Contamination can also occur at more than one stage. For example, suppose food first gets contaminated with bacteria in an unsanitary processing plant. The bacteria can later increase to dangerous levels if the food is not properly refrigerated in the grocery store or at a customer’s home.
Any type of food can become contaminated and cause food poisoning, but some are more prone than others. Commonly contaminated foods include fresh produce, raw meat, shellfish, eggs, and unpasteurized milk. Factors that can contribute to food spoilage or contamination include:
- Exposure of produce in the fields to runoff from cattle farms
- Eggs laid by infected hens
- Meat becoming contaminated in slaughterhouses
- Washing food with contaminated water or not washing it at all
- Food contacting unsanitized surfaces, such as storage bins, conveyor belts, or utensils
- Food exposure to toxic chemicals
- Contamination from insects, rodents, or other animals
- Food not being properly refrigerated during transportation
- Produce trucks not being properly cleaned after carrying animal products
- Food workers not washing their hands regularly
- Food workers poorly trained in safe food handling procedures
- Preparing fresh produce with equipment used to prepare raw meats
- Not cooking food long enough or at a high enough temperature
- Leaving food out in the sun or heat at outdoor events
- Leaving food out for too long in your kitchen
What Are Common Food-Poisoning Symptoms?
Common symptoms of food poisoning include stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Symptoms may start within a half hour after you eat contaminated food, or they may not start until a few days later. For example, symptoms of salmonella poisoning may start anywhere from six hours to six days after ingesting contaminated food.
Anyone can become ill from food poisoning. However, individuals with allergies, young children, older people, and immuno-compromised people are most at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Fever over 102 degrees
- Diarrhea that lasts more than three days
- Diarrhea that is bloody
- Vomiting so often that you are unable to keep food down
- Signs of dehydration, including a persistently dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when you stand up, and unusually low levels of urination.
Some people may develop life-threatening food poisoning symptoms that require hospitalization. Tragically, some foodborne infections during pregnancy can even lead to miscarriages, premature deliveries, or infections that threaten the life of the newborn.
Compensation for Foodborne Illness in Louisiana
Over 200 diseases can be transmitted through contaminated food. While some people have symptoms that are mild and clear up quickly on their own, other victims of food poisoning are not as lucky. They may need to spend significant time attending medical appointments and getting treatment. Meanwhile, medical bills may pile up and become overwhelming.
Louisiana law allows you to seek financial compensation if someone else’s carelessness caused your food poisoning. Among other things, you may be compensated for things like:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lowered future earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Psychological distress
- Lowered quality of life
- Wrongful death
Our dedicated Louisiana food poisoning lawyers have the skills and resources needed to conduct a thorough, independent investigation of your accident. We will leave no stone unturned as we determine all potential sources of liability. We will also use our legal expertise to calculate the full and fair compensation you are owed.
Consult a Louisiana Food Poisoning Lawyer at Shamieh Law
Food poisoning cases can be complex to investigate. In particular, they require pinpointing which food caused your illness and where contamination occurred in the supply chain. They may also involve numerous victims, leading to mass tort and class action litigation involving product liability. Seek help from a lawyer with experience investigating food poisoning cases to achieve the best results.
Our top-tier legal team of Louisiana personal injury lawyers has the skills, resources, and experience needed to handle your case from start to finish. We operate on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case. Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation case review.
