With the recent outbreak of food poisoning in the national news, we are receiving calls to our legal helpline from people asking, ‘Can you sue for E Coli?’
The answer is that you can sue for E Coli where the infection arose as a result of a third party’s failure to maintain acceptable safety and hygiene standards
The UK Health Security Agency (‘UKHSA’) has said that many of the recent reports are linked to one single outbreak, which is believed to be a food source.
The vast majority of these cases have occurred in England, and it has resulted in many people being hospitalised.
Each confirmed case has been a result of Shiga toxin-producing E Coli, which causes severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and fevers, with symptoms lasting up to two weeks. The impact of this bacteria can be more detrimental to children, with the potential for complications to be of a life threatening nature.
While it appears that the main cause of this outbreak has been the consumption of contaminated food, E Coli can also be spread by close contact with individuals who are infected. As a result, those caring for anyone who is infected can be at heightened risk of contracting the disease themselves.
Authorities advise that strict hygiene practices should be observed and caution against visiting vulnerable people in hospitals and care homes to avoid the spread of infection.
If you have become infected and are wondering, ‘Can you sue for E Coli?’ then contact our free legal helpline for guidance on claiming compensation on a No Win, No Fee basis. We will pursue you claim for your ‘pain and suffering’ together with any financial losses you have incurred, such as lost earnings.
