If you suffer from E.coli poisoning, it can be a worrying situation to handle. As we’re going to discuss, the symptoms can bring about discomfort, stress and pain. But it becomes an even greater ordeal if it happens through no fault of your own. What if you get ill through someone else’s poor cookery or through a colleague handing you low-standard food? In these scenarios and others of a similar nature, you may have grounds to file a compensation claim through negligence. And that’s what this guide is going to be discussing. We’re covering everything of relevance with regards to taking legal action after E.coli poisoning. Along the way, we describe an example case study of a victim of E.coli poisoning.
E.Coli poisoning compensation
Now, there are 3 ways that you contact our helpful team to discuss your personal injury case. The first of these is to telephone one of our advisors by calling up 0161 696 9685. Alternatively, if you want to put your enquiry in writing, you can do so by filling out our in-depth contact form. And if you want to receive a quick reply, you can always use our 24/7 Live Chat function.
Choose A Section
- A Guide To Claiming Compensation Payouts For E.Coli Poisoning
- What Is E.Coli Poisoning?
- How Can You Suffer E.Coli Poisoning At Work?
- E.Coli Poisoning In A Public Place
- Our Team’s Advice On Personal Injury Compensation Calculations
- What Are Special Damages?
- Case Study: £14,000 For E.Coli Poisoning
- Free Legal Advice That Can Help Evaluate Your Payout
- No Win No Fee Policies Made Simple For Claimants
- Your Free Legal Advice From Our Advisors
- More Resources And Guides On E.Coli Poisoning
- E.Coli Poisoning FAQs
A Guide To Claiming Compensation Payouts For E.Coli Poisoning
We begin this guide by describing what E.coli poisoning is, as well as the symptoms to watch out for. Next, we discuss the criteria necessary for you to make a compensation claim with negligence as the basis. After that, we handle the main areas where E.coli poisoning could happen, along with examples of potential scenarios. The calculation process is another integral stage, as this determines what you could viably claim for. Beyond the case study itself, we talk about No Win No Fee agreements and the benefits to the claimant. And we end the guide by answering some of the questions which people often ask about E.coli poisoning.
Personal Injury Claims Time Limit
There is generally a window of 3 years in which you can make a claim for compensation after an injury. So, this also includes any scenario where you suffer from E.coli poisoning. However, that start date of the 3 years can be from the date the illness occurred or from when you became aware you suffered an illness due to negligence. Keep in mind that for a child under 18, a third party can act as their appointed representative to handle a claim on their behalf until the child turns 18. But if their age change accordingly, then their own 3-year window begins from that point. Also for those who do not have the mental capabilities the time limit is also different. Contact us if you need further advice.
What Is E.Coli Poisoning?
E.coli, or Escherichia coli, is a bacteria within the intestines of many humans and animals. Exposure to E.coli through contaminated food products has the potential to cause real health issues for the sufferer. Sometimes, if the exposure is only minor, the symptoms are relatively harmless. But on other occasions, the victim could end up falling very ill. The usual symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhoea with blood in the excrement and vomiting. And food products that may cause the illness include meat, vegetables, beef or chicken which aren’t sufficiently cooked.
If the symptoms are of low risk and only providing a minimal disruption, then you should heal up relatively quickly. Even in moderate cases, recovery can be weeks. But if the symptoms are severe, they may cause the victim to be hospitalised. There is a possibility that severe E.coli poisoning could result in kidney failure. And this may be life-threatening for some victims. Hence why it’s imperative to receive medical guidance as soon as the problem becomes noticeable.
How Can You Suffer E.Coli Poisoning At Work?
If you wish to make a compensation claim after E.coli poisoning, it’s important for the case to be viable. A good way of determining its feasibility of success is to consider whether negligence from a third party is the root cause. If so, then you should have reasonable grounds on which to claim. But there are 3 points of criteria that you must meet to prove a third party’s negligence as being responsible:
- The third-party was tasked with providing you with some form of a duty of care;
- But somehow, a breach of this duty occurred, which resulted in an incident;
- And the fallout of this incident left you hurt, with you suffering E.coli poisoning being one example.
A workplace incident could be one such scenario that sees you suffering from E.coli poisoning. This could be a breach of the duty of care as per the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Despite an employer’s best efforts to maintain staff wellbeing, if for one reason or another they are negligent or another employee is proven to be negligent then they may be liable for any suffering. For example, if an employer provides a staff canteen but the food supplied is undercooked this could cause an employee food poisoning. If negligence is proven the employer could be liable for the suffering caused.
If you are unsure if your case for a personal injury claim is valid call our advisors today. Through a free no-obligation chat, you can have your case assessed.
E.Coli Poisoning In A Public Place
Another scenario could be an accident in a public place. This could take up many potential locations, ranging from restaurants and bars to nightclubs and pubs. But the duty of care remains the same to circumvent any incidents in public places. As part of food safety laws and the Food Safety Act 1990, those who supply food must ensure their products are safe for consumption.
To give an example, perhaps a customer at a restaurant falls ill from eating a poorly-cooked beef dish. If subsequent health and safety checks find that the food wasn’t in the appropriate condition, or even that the original goods were substandard, then this could prove a breach of duty on the restaurant’s part. And if it happens to one customer, chances are that it could happen to others within that environment too. Don’t forget as well that a multiple injury claim is possible if the victim suffers multiple injuries alongside their Ecoli poisoning. Please talk to an advisor if you have any questions on this matter.
Our Team’s Advice On Personal Injury Compensation Calculations
As you can see, then, there are numerous ways that E.coli poisoning could occur with a compensation claim in the aftermath. Now, we delve into how the claims process forms from the standpoint of your potential payout. A crucial stage will be you undergoing a medical assessment whereby a doctor thoroughly examines your health situation. This includes clarifying the full extent of E.coli poisoning, but also any contributory factors. And having this in written form could go a long way towards your case being successful. It could also prove that your health was previously fine, with any lingering health consequences being direct because of the incident.
With the medical report and any medical evidence, the solicitor, if you have chosen to use one, could put a figure on one part of your compensation claim. There are two heads of loss that you could claim: general damages and special damages. General damages cover any suffering and pain, as well as, any loss of amenity.
General damages focus on the primary consequences of your E.coli poisoning. That means any physical pain and suffering due to the illness, along with any mental anguish as well. After all, there could be psychological trauma stemming from this, and it may even extend to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). So, these are the main examples of what your general damages could include. But you can learn more by speaking to one of our specialist advisors at any time.
What Are Special Damages?
Then, we come onto special damages. These refer to the secondary impact of your E.coli poisoning; the additional problems that you encounter from your health woes. Amongst them are a possible lack of sustainable income during your recovery. (This compounds if for some reason you’re not in receipt of any statutory sick pay, or SSP.) They may also be covering the likes of medical bills and payments for the usage of public transport. And they could extend to the hiring of a nurse at carer if your recuperation lasts several weeks. If you have receipts or invoices to hand that could support each example, this may help your case greatly. Find out more by chatting with a member of our team today.
Case Study: £14,000 For E.Coli Poisoning
Mr Williams, 34, worked as a trapeze artist for a travelling circus. The troupe went around the country to entertainment venues of varying shapes and sizes.
One afternoon, Mr Williams and his colleagues were waiting to be served their lunch at a local restaurant. Mr Williams decided to order the beef as it was a special of the day.
And this proved to have terrible consequences. Because Mr Williams ate the beef as part of his lunch, and he soon began feeling poorly. An hour before showtime, he began to suffer from serious stomach cramps, and he also felt nauseous. It got to the extent where it was clear that Mr Williams was in no condition to perform. Even so, his employers felt that he just needed the night off.
Unfortunately, Mr Williams’ condition worsened that evening. By bedtime, he was experiencing diarrhoea with blood in his excrement, as well as vomiting. Mr Williams was sharing a room with a fellow performer, who decided that he needed to be seen by a doctor. So, an ambulance was called. Mr Williams was taken to the local hospital in the area where he was diagnosed with E.coli poisoning. He would be left with digestive problems for the foreseeable future.
He spent two weeks on the mend before the symptoms finally reduced. However, the precise nature of his craft meant that Mr Williams took an extra two weeks to rebuild his strength and concentration. All in all, he missed a month of work, which included many shows up and down the country. Mr Williams was approached by another member of his team who had also suffered a similar illness. When they discussed things it appeared they both fell ill after eating at the restaurant.
E.Coli Compensation Claim
So, Mr Williams decided to speak to a personal injury solicitor. She informed him that he had a viable case because after contacting the restaurant it appeared it had happened many times before. Therefore, Mr Williams filed a compensation claim against the restaurant for a breach of duty. He received a compensation settlement of £14,000, with £10,950 representing general damages and £3,050 covering special damages.
| Type Of Special Damages | Includes: | How Much? |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Earnings | Lost earnings from being unable to work | £2,800 |
| Medical Costs | Costs of medical treatment during his recovery | £100 |
| Transport Costs | Costs of using public transport for journeys | £100 |
| Other Costs | Other costs relating to the accident | £50 |
Note: This account is not based on an actual case and is merely an example of what might happen to someone who claims for E.coli poisoning. It serves as a purpose to demonstrate the claims process.
Free Legal Advice That Can Help Evaluate Your Payout
There may still be some concerns that you have before committing to filing a claim. For that reason, we provide a free consultation as a courtesy to all potential clients ahead of any case. This allows you to find out everything you want about your specific situation. It also allows us to explain the claims process in greater detail as it pertains to your predicament. And it could result in you deciding whether or not you should move forward with a case. In short, the free consultation is the bridge between you considering a compensation claim and
or not. You can get in touch with our friendly team today to receive your free consultation for an E.coli poisoning claim.
No Win No Fee Policies Made Simple For Claimants
A compensation claim for E.coli poisoning needs to be as easy as possible for the victim. This is to ensure they are confident and relaxed about taking action in the wake of an unpleasant situation. Hence why a No Win No Fee policy can make a big difference in how a solicitor is funded. For instance, a claimant doesn’t have to pay the legal costs for their personal injury solicitor if the case is unsuccessful. Regardless of why it may not result in compensation, it’s no longer the victim’s responsibility to cover a solicitor’s own costs. As long as it is an honest claim.
Now, if the case does win, then the victim does pay a success fee to their personal injury solicitor. This has a legal cap to ensure that the claimant doesn’t lose a large percentage of their compensation figure. But it simply demonstrates that only if the case is victorious should the claimant have to pay their solicitor. All of which makes life easier while removing the need for unnecessary legal costs for the claimant. Find out more about working with a No Win No Fee solicitor by calling us via the number above and speaking to an advisor.
Your Free Legal Advice From Our Advisors
So, you have now read everything that we can say when it comes to claiming compensation for E.coli poisoning. All that remains is for you to get in touch with our friendly team yourself. Note that you don’t have to move forward with a claim as a direct result of talking with our advisors. But having that conversation does represent the first step towards making a claim. If our advisors can see that you have a valid case they can connect you with a suitable No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor.
If you wish to get in touch with us, you have 3 methods by which you can do so. One of these is to telephone us by ringing up 0161 696 9685. Another is to drop us a quick message on our 24/7 Live Chat service. And the final option is to provide a more in-depth explanation of your situation via our exclusive online form.
More Resources And Guides On E.Coli Poisoning
This guide should give you a much greater understanding of E.coli poisoning compensation claims. You may also have more knowledge about how to claim compensation if it happens due to a third party’s negligence. But we realise that you could still want to know more, as you never stop learning. For that reason, you can have a look at these additional pages for further guidance.
First of all, there is a page covering any allergic reactions.
We also handle any queries with regards to employment law rights after an accident at work.
And we discuss post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of an accident.
Meanwhile, the NHS England website details everything you should know about e.coli poisoning.
And the main NHS site goes in-depth on poisoning as a whole.
E.Coli Poisoning FAQs
How could you get an E.coli poisoning infection?
Eating contaminated food is usually the reason why someone may suffer from E.coli poisoning.
What are the common symptoms of E.coli poisoning?
Typical symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as a possible fever.
What is the usual recovery time for E.coli poisoning?
E.coli poisoning symptoms usually come to an end within 5-10 days. But in severe cases, they could last longer. Seek medical advice if you think you are suffering from E.coli poisoning.
Page by KG
Published by AL.