If you’ve been the victim of a foodborne illness, a food poisoning lawyer College Park MD residents trust is here for you. The law firm of Cohen and Cohen, P.C. has a skillful, dedicated team of lawyers who understand the complex laws surrounding foodborne legal claims. If you or a loved one has endured serious symptoms of food poisoning, you may be eligible for legal compensation.
How Foodborne Illnesses Spread
When you contact a food poisoning lawyer in College Park MD, he or she will likely attempt to establish how you contracted the illness. This may require precarious investigation, as an experienced food poisoning attorney might attest.
Millions of people become sick with food poisoning every year. Around 130,000 of these people require hospitalization and further medical care, and over 3,000 will die. Foodborne illnesses can spread in a number of ways; some may include:
- Not cooking food — especially meat — thoroughly
- Improper food storage
- Keeping cooked food unrefrigerated for a long period of time
- Consuming food that has been touched by someone who is ill
- Cross-contamination between food, surfaces, and equipment
- Poor hygiene and sanitization
Types of Foodborne Illnesses
A College Park MD food poisoning lawyer may consult medical professionals who treated you to verify the type of foodborne illness you contracted. In general, most foodborne illnesses are caused by a bacterial strain, but it can also be caused by viruses or parasites. Some of the most common types of foodborne illnesses include:
- E.Coli
- Shigella
- Listeria
- Salmonella
- Hepatitis A
- Vibrio
- Campylobacter
- Cyclospora
- Botulism
These types of food poisoning may cause various symptoms that can last between 3 days to 2 weeks, or possibly even longer. Certain illnesses, specifically salmonella and E.coli, may require extensive medical treatment, and might even be fatal. If you believe you have had any of the aforementioned illnesses, it is usually advisable to contact a food poisoning lawyer College Park MD residents have on their side.
Understanding Food Poisoning Claims
A food poisoning legal claim generally falls under the public liability or personal injury law spectrums. These are highly specialized areas of the law, and should probably be investigated by a College Park MD food poisoning lawyer rather than a jack-of-all-trades lawyer. Although no two cases are the same, your lawyer will probably aim to demonstrate the following components of a successful claim:
- Fault — The food manufacturer, processor, or seller acted carelessly in regards to preparation, storage, or handling
- Causation – The food manufacturer, processor, or seller caused the food to become contaminated, and this contamination caused the illness
- Damages – The pain, suffering, hardship, and losses you endured was a result of consuming the contaminated food
To prove these things, a food poisoning lawyer College Park MD respects may utilize microbiologists, epidemiologists, or sanitation professionals, amongst others. Your lawyer may also call upon expert witnesses, doctors, or those with a scientific background to help validate the evidence backing your claim.
Contacting a Food Poisoning Lawyer in College Park MD
If you have been made ill after consuming contaminated food, the attorneys at Cohen and Cohen, P.C. would like to discuss your potential claim. Please arrange a free consultation with a food poisoning lawyer College Park MD families trust by calling (301) 637-8381.
