Liability for Food Poisoning Injury in New Jersey

February 20, 2023
by We can Help Law

Monmouth County Food Poisoning Attorneys

We’ve all had the experience of eating something that didn’t sit well. Food poisoning isn’t just a nuisance; it can cause long-term effects that limit your ability to enjoy life healthfully. In fact, consuming contaminated food frequently results in food-borne diseases that may have serious consequences. If you’ve suffered from food poisoning in Monmouth County or elsewhere in New Jersey, you may need an experienced lawyer to help you recover financial damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and even pain and suffering for your injuries. Contact us today at (732) 303-7857 to handle your food poisoning claim in Asbury Park, Middletown, Howell, Manasquan, Sea Bright, Red Bank, Freehold, and other Monmouth and Ocean County areas. Learn more about food poisoning by reading on and feel free to contact us anytime to discuss your potential claim free of charge.

Defining Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating or drinking something tainted or contaminated. While this foodborne illness often causes only mild symptoms, it can result in serious complications.

Different Forms of Food Poisoning

“Food poisoning” is a general term. In fact, there are multiple types of illnesses that are considered to be causes of food poisoning. Bacteria such as campylobacter, salmonella, and listeria are common causes of food poisoning. Additionally, viruses and parasites in contaminated foods or liquids can cause illness.

Food Poisoning Signs and Symptoms

It is often difficult to differentiate between causes of food-borne illnesses, as most causes of food poisoning lead to similar symptoms. These include upset stomach and stomach cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in stools, headache and fever, chills, difficulty swallowing, and dehydration, among others.

Possible Actions if Suffering from Food Poisoning

There are some immediate steps to take if you suspect you are suffering from a food-borne illness. The first thing to do is to make sure you’re getting plenty of fluids, as dehydration is a common and serious side effect of food poisoning. This includes drinking water and hydrating liquids at home or, if necessary, going to the hospital to receive an IV. Because most food poisoning lasts only a few hours to a couple of days, if the symptoms are not serious, you can support recovery by eating bland foods that settle easefully in the stomach, such as bananas and grains like toast and rice. For a few days after you first experience symptoms of food poisoning, make sure that someone in your community is checking on you in case you take a turn for the worse and need to be admitted to the hospital.

If you believe that you have gotten food poisoning from a restaurant or store, it is important that you report the establishment to your local health department so that they can investigate and prevent a possible bacterial or viral outbreak through a contaminated food.

Proving Liability in the Event of Food Poisoning in New Jersey

Identifying Responsibility for Food Poisoning in Ocean County, NJ

A restaurant or store that provided contaminated food that causes a food-borne illness can be held liable in some cases under New Jersey’s negligence laws. In order for liability to be established, the plaintiff must prove that the restaurant or store was responsible for the food poisoning due to improper handling or preservation of food or some other example of active fault. The defendant has the benefit of the doubt in these cases, so providing causality is the responsibility of the plaintiff. For this reason, it is important to have a personal injury attorney working on your behalf to prove that the responsible party caused your food poisoning so that you can recover financial damages for medical treatment, out-of-pocket costs, lost wages, and other expenses you incurred as a result of your illness.

Speak with Seasoned Freehold Food Poisoning Lawyers about Your Options

When you’ve been subjected to food poisoning, the last thing you want to have to do is deal with a personal injury claim to recover lost finances, wages, and physical and emotional wellbeing. Our team is dedicated to serving as your representative in a claim against the restaurant or store, product manufacturer, or other party whose negligence led to your illness in Eatontown, Neptune, Holmdel, Belmar, Long Branch, Spring Lake, and communities in Monmouth County and Ocean County, NJ.

The burden of proof lies in the hands of the plaintiff in food poisoning cases, which is you. We conduct the additional investigation and gathering of necessary documents to help you prove that the responsible party’s negligence is to blame so that you can recoup the full sum of damages for your losses. Have you been the victim of food poisoning due to someone else’s fault in New Jersey? Call us at (732) 303-7857 today to get a free review of your case and discuss your legal options.