Food Poisoning

Whether we are out on the town enjoying our inner “foodie,” taking a trip to one of Colorado’s many farmer’s markets, stopping by our local fast-casual chain, or simply trying the Happy Hour oysters, sushi, or other exotic cuisine, many of us have experienced varying degrees of sickness caused by food borne bacteria or contaminants. Most of the time it is an unpleasant but brief sickness and we recover without medical attention. On the other hand, a severe case of food poisoning can require extensive medical treatment, missed work, and can leave you with permanent health conditions such as colitis that can impact the rest of your life. At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, our Boulder personal injury attorneys have experience helping people who have been harmed by foodborne illness caused by unsafe food practices. If you have become seriously ill from suspected food poisoning, we encourage you to contact our Boulder food poisoning attorneys today at 303-543-1000 for a free consultation about your case.

Food poisoning cases are unique in that a plaintiff needs to prove that the cause of your food poisoning is something that the restaurant or food handler did (or failed to do). When symptoms of food poisoning are suspected, your doctor can run tests to rule out or identify the specific bacteria, such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, or E. coli, that is causing your symptoms. Once symptoms are linked to a specific bacteria or contagion, it takes a thorough investigation to identify how the bacteria resulted in food poisoning. For example, was the harmful bacteria spread by unsafe food handling, undercooked food, old or rotten food, or cross-contamination with something unsanitary?

Local health departments can provide a wealth of information to identifying a likely source of food poisoning. For example, Boulder County has a robust food safety program that apply to the restaurants in Boulder County. These programs usually require inspections to ensure that safe food handling and preparation is happening, and they also provide a way for you to report an illness or any other food safety concern about a restaurant or food processer. Organizations like the Boulder County Health Department also have records of restaurant inspections and violations, which a Boulder food poisoning lawyer may find useful when it comes time to proving that a case of food poisoning occurred at a specific restaurant.

Because plaintiffs bear the burden of proving that it is more likely than not that a restaurant caused their food poisoning, experts are often required to show the link between someone’s illness and the unsafe food. Our Boulder food poisoning attorney can use local or national experts in helping to show the likely causal connection between the unsafe food and your illness. Additionally, we will work with your doctor (usually a gastroenterologist) to show the how the unsafe food affected you, and to fully understand and explain to the insurance company or a jury how your life has been impacted and will be in the future. Understanding what your future holds as a result of a food poisoning incident is critical, especially if you are suffering from serious and permanent health problems.

At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, we believe in the principle that everyone should have a lawyer if they need one, regardless of financial ability. We represent most of our clients on a contingency fee basis, which means that our clients do not pay us anything up front. Rather, we get paid at the end of your case as a percentage of the gross financial recovery we can obtain for you. If we are unable to achieve a settlement or verdict for you, we do not receive payment for our attorney fees.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of food poisoning, we invite you to call our Boulder food poisoning lawyers today at 3030-543-1000 for a free consultation about your experience and how we might be able to help you.