Whether it’s finally having a chance to go out to eat at your favorite restaurant or grabbing a favorite dish from the grocery store, the last thing you expect is to come down with E. coli poisoning. The illness can leave you feeling sick for days, and complications are always a risk.
So, if you’re thinking about filing an Atlanta E. coli claim, there are a few aspects to consider. These can impact everything from your ability to file a claim to the amount you recover for your damages.
How to Protect Your E. Coli Claim
Filing an insurance claim for any reason almost always comes with a lot of dos and don’ts, and this applies to filing a claim if you’re diagnosed with E. coli.
Even though you may not want to make an E. coli diagnosis a community announcement, ignoring the implications of your diagnosis can impact your family and friends. So, what should you do if you’re diagnosed with an E. coli infection>? The steps you take depend on if you’re planning on filing a claim for damages.
Don’t Wait to File a Claim
Like most states, Georgia has a statute of limitations in place. The statute of limitations refers to how long you have to file a claim after being diagnosed with an E. coli infection. For most personal injury claims, even those involving E. coli, Georgia allows two years to file a claim. If you miss the statute of limitations, you may not be able to file a claim.
There can be exceptions to the statute. If a minor is diagnosed with an E. coli infection, they can wait until they turn 18 to file a claim. This can also apply if the individual responsible for giving you the E. coli infection can’t be reached by law enforcement for notification regarding a pending lawsuit.
Even though there can be some exceptions to the statute of limitations, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great idea to ignore other claim requirements.
Don’t forget to Document Everything
Part of the difficulty of proving an E coli claim is providing supporting evidence. You must show proof of the accident, regardless of fault, and this usually means documenting everything and keeping every email, text, and scrap of paper relating to the incident.
If you’re not sure what to save, a good suggestion is to become a pack rat, which means saving every scrap of paper that may go toward proving your accident. All of your medical receipts and bills can help prove your claim. If you have receipts from where you ordered the tainted food, this can also help support your claim of contracting a food-borne illness.
Your E. coli claim may list both the manufacturer and supplier, injury claims involving food-borne illness can involve multiple parties and this means providing plenty of evidence to back up your case.
Don’t forget to Name Other Liable Parties
E. coli cases are often complex. More than one party can be responsible for your food-borne illness. Even if you contracted the illness at a restaurant, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re solely responsible for your illness. You may need to do some research to ensure you’re naming the right defendants in your lawsuit.
While a restaurant or grocery may be one of the liable parties, it can also extend to the manufacturer, supplier, or delivery agency. For example, if a supplier doesn’t alert the manufacturer to a potential issue they may be the responsible party in your E. coli claim.
The same can apply if a restaurant knowing sells food that the deliverer noted may be tainted. Forgetting to follow the supply trail in an E. coli claim can significantly reduce the value of your claim.
The Compensation Potentially Available in an E. Coli Claim
Most E.coli claims focus on compensation for medical expenses, but some include lost wages and even non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Before you can start listing damages in an Atlanta E. coli claim, you will need to provide proof. However, sometimes even your medical records and other documents aren’t enough to ensure your claim is successfully resolved.
Proving an E. coli claim can be challenging; you must show that the food-borne illness is a result of your purchase. To help guarantee that you receive fair compensation for your Atlanta E. coli claim, talk to an experienced attorney. They can help you navigate the legal process necessary for filing an E. coli claim.
