Houston E. Coli Poisoning Lawyer

Our Attorneys Can Help You Get Compensation in an E. Coli Poisoning Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has gotten sick or someone has died from an E. coli infection that was due to another party’s negligence, carelessness, or fault, you may be entitled to compensation through insurance or an E. coli poisoning lawsuit. However, these lawsuits are complicated, proving negligence is difficult, and making mistakes can cost you the compensation you deserve.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a family of bacteria that normally live in the intestines of humans and animals. While many strains are harmless or beneficial, some strains cause severe gastrointestinal illness and health complications that require expensive hospitalization and medical treatment.  Several Escherichia outbreaks occur every year, and though they are typically isolated, they can lead to life-altering or even life-threatening consequences for those victims who come down with infection.

These outbreaks are preventable with tightly controlled quality checks, something that every food producer and handler should maintain.  However, in many cases, when a person is poisoned with Escherichia, it is due to negligence regarding food safety and sanitation on the part of food producers, distributors, servers, and handlers. If the food company does not maintain product safety, they may be liable for damages that result from this infection.

Fortunately, there is help available from the Houston E. coli poisoning lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law. By retaining a seasoned attorney from our firm who is familiar with these types of cases, you as a victim are taking the first step in receiving the necessary financial help you need to recover from the harm you suffered. Getting proper representation can alleviate your financial burdens at a time when you may be unable to work, hold those who are at fault accountable, and help prevent similar poisoning outbreaks in the future.

We offer a free consultation to evaluate your case and determine the best way to move forward. Call us now at 713-973-8888 or toll-free 1-800-444-5000 to get started. Let us handle the legal details while you concentrate on your recovery.

How Our Houston E. Coli Poisoning Lawyer Can Help You

Our Attorneys Can Help with an E. Coli Poisoning Lawsuit

While E. coli poisoning lawsuits are complicated, the attorneys at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law know how to pursue them. Our firm has been an advocate for helping Texas residents for more than 35 years in achieving compensation and justice for their rightful legal claims.

When you have us on your side, we will:

• Meet with you to discuss how the poisoning occurred, who might have been responsible, and evaluate whether you have a valid case and what your case may be worth.
• Ensure that you receive proper medical treatment and that all effects from the poisoning are documented and reported to the proper authorities.
• Conduct investigations and gather evidence from health department inspections and reports and medical records and previous complaints, and interview other individuals who may have been harmed.
• File all legal paperwork and make court appearances as required.
• Hire experts in food poisoning to testify as to the source and extent of your damages and the type and costs of treatment you will need into the future.
• Negotiate with insurance companies and opposition lawyers for a fair settlement.
• Build your case and take it to court if necessary.

Our E. coli personal injury attorneys can help navigate the complex laws dealing with food poisoning. Product liability in Texas is a strict liability offense, which means that defendants are liable if there is a defect in the product and the product led to harm; proving negligence is not necessary. Based upon the Texas strict liability law, (CPRC Chapter 82), the defendant is liable for damages if it can be proven they were responsible for the infection.

For food poisoning product liability cases, our attorneys generally will need to show that:

• You were injured or incurred other losses because of the food product;
• The product was defective; and
• Your injury or loss was caused by the product’s defect.

It’s best to contact our attorneys for your free consultation and start your case as soon as possible. Call us today at 713-973-8888.

Who is Liable for E. Coli Poisoning?

There may be one or more parties liable for E. coli poisoning, depending on the specific circumstances that led to the food being contaminated and how you were infected. In some situations, our E coli poisoning attorneys can hold food producers and sellers responsible for selling or providing you with defective or dangerous foods. Manufacturers, producers, and sellers of food products are, in many cases, strictly liable for distributing food that is contaminated, as they have a duty to ensure that the food they make and sell is not unfit or unreasonably dangerous for people to eat. Restaurants and their employees may also be liable, if they have utilized unsafe practices that led to E. coli infections.

In cases of E. coli infection, it is necessary to find the liable parties by tracing the infection back to a particular restaurant, grocery store, or other establishment where food was received, or to a particular manufacturer, distributor, or farm. If you receive a diagnosis of E. coli, your doctor will report it to the local or state health department. The department or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will attempt to trace the source of infection whenever two or more people get the same illness from consuming the same food or beverage. They will locate sick people to find the size and severity of the outbreak and where and when it may have started. They will inspect and conduct biological testing to get information as to people who were infected.

Once responsible parties are identified, our attorneys will attempt to hold them liable in an E. coli lawsuit, as they all may have insurance and assets that can go toward a settlement

Damages You May Recover in an E. coli Poisoning Lawsuit

In a successful E. coli poisoning lawsuit, our lawyers can help you win an award that covers both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are to reimburse you for monetary expenses resulting from the infection, such as:

• Cost of medical, hospital, rehabilitation, and nursing care resulting from your injuries
• Loss of wages and earning capacity from being too sick to work
• Funeral costs, should a wrongful death be involved.

Non-economic damages are compensation for the damages that do not have a dollar value but negatively impact your life, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional distress caused by the injuries
• Loss of consortium and enjoyment of life.

Punitive damages – In some rare cases, when defendants knowingly violate laws and place people’s health at risk, punitive damages may be awarded as well. These are meant to punish and make an example of a defendant due to especially reckless or egregious actions.

How to Sue for E. Coli Poisoning

When searching for a personal injury attorney to file an E. coli lawsuit, it is always best to select a professional who has successfully handled similar cases in the past. Our E. coli poisoning attorneys have successfully represented other victims of Escherichia poisoning and will be better able to find the most pertinent information; they will likely be able to organize your case more efficiently and effectively.

Our E. Coli Poisoning Lawyers Explain Why This Infection is Dangerous

Escherichia is one of the most common bacteria species in the world. It is found in the intestines of most warm-blooded animals, where it helps maintain gastrointestinal (GI) function. However, some strains of Escherichia can be deadly when ingested. The bacteria itself does not pose a threat, but it produces what are known as Shiga toxins. The most common strain of E. coli that causes outbreaks is O157:H7, which produces Shiga toxins that bind to blood vessels and enter the endothelium cells lining the vessel. Once in the cell, the toxin deactivates ribosomes, which are responsible for creating the proteins the cell needs to survive. This results in the rapid death of the cell. This is especially problematic because the endothelium cells need to be renewed constantly.

As endothelium cells die, they cause internal hemorrhaging that can result in bloody diarrhea and vomiting. This can quickly deprive the body of fluids and cause severe dehydration. In severe cases and in people with weakened immune systems, Escherichia may also cause hemorrhaging in the kidneys, eventually causing fatal kidney failure. Children are particularly at risk for this deadly complication.

Many outbreaks of E. coli involve meat, especially ground beef. E. coli in the intestines of cows may come into contact with meat during the slaughtering process. A small amount of E. coli can contaminate millions of pounds of ground beef. You can also get it from eating contaminated foods, like unpasteurized milk, apple cider, and soft cheeses and also from contaminated beverages, like raw milk or unclean water.

Symptoms of infection include:

• Stomach cramps and gas
• Loss of appetite or nausea or vomiting
• Severe diarrhea (often bloody)
• Fatigue
• Fever (usually not high – less than 101˚F).

When symptoms are severe, they may include:

• Dehydration
• Decreased urine output or blood in urine
• Pale skin that bruises easily.

Diagnosis of E. coli is performed with a stool culture that must be taken within the first 48 hours after bloody diarrhea starts. Infections can become life-threatening when a complication develops called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The syndrome can lead to kidney failure, and children are especially susceptible. Symptoms include feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, and loss of color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids. Victims should be hospitalized due to the high risk of kidney failure.

Call Our E. Coli Poisoning Lawyers for Help

When innocent people are harmed and suffer damages from E. coli due to someone else’s negligent behavior, they deserve to be compensated. When you contact an E. coli poisoning injury attorney from Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, you as a victim are taking the first step toward getting compensation. Our attorneys will do everything possible to get you the necessary financial help you need to recover from the harm you suffered and ensure that those who are at fault are held accountable.

There are no fees to you unless and until we win your case, so call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law now at 713-973-8888 or 1-800-444-5000 for your free case review.