There’s nothing better than unwinding after a long week at a casual restaurant with friends, family and food. Unfortunately, spending the next day at the hospital can really put a damper on the rest of the weekend. Several restaurant-goers experienced just that after eating at an Applebee’s in Minneapolis.
If you’ve been the victim of food borne illness because of someone else’s negligence, we can help. At the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino, we practice in a number of areas of personal injury, including car accidents, wrongful death and workers’ compensation. Call us today to speak with an experienced personal-injury lawyer at 612-236-1320.
Authorities Unsure How Large the E. coli Outbreak Is
According to HeraldOnline.com, reports from the victims’ personal-injury attorney indicate that the patrons who fell ill after eating at an Applebee’s restaurant may have eaten Oriental Chicken Salad. Restaurant executives have since removed the item in question from the menu, though that may not be enough to stop the outbreak. This appears to be one of the first reported cases of E. coli O111 food poisoning associated with the chain restaurant in Minneapolis.
The victims’ personal-injury lawyer believes the outbreak was significant for a number of reasons. First, it involved O111, which is a fairly rare strain of E. coli; the strain that doctors see most often is typically O157:H7. Because of its rarity, labs are less likely to test for it, indicating that the outbreak may be more significant than current estimates indicate.
Second, the likely culprit is a fresh vegetable in a ready-to-eat salad, because kitchen staff does not use any heat when preparing the dish, which would effectively kill the pathogen. This highlights the fact that Applebee’s is likely not the only restaurant to have received contaminated vegetables.
Though it may not seem like the patrons have strong injury cases at first glance, a good personal-injury attorney might be able to prove that improper handling or a failure to maintain food safety protocols in the kitchen caused the outbreak.
One Dead and Two Injured in Car Crash
There are many examples of foodborne illness cases in which the victims deserve compensation. When negligence causes someone to fall seriously ill, he or she should not suffer financially because of medical costs or missed work. Of course, the most common personal-injury suits are caused outside of the kitchen.
Car accidents do not occur out of nowhere, and negligence and reckless behavior are two of the main causes. According to MINews, the driver of a pickup truck ran off the road and struck a tree early in the morning last week. Responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
Authorities rushed his two passengers to a local hospital, where staff treated them for severe injuries. One of the passengers, an 8-year-old boy, was sitting in the middle seat of the truck without wearing a seatbelt.
Don’t Wait to Speak With a Qualified Personal-Injury Attorney
If you or a family member sustained injuries or fell ill because someone else was acting negligently, don’t wait to call us. We have a team of experienced lawyers ready to guide you through the suit process. To speak with a qualified injury attorney in Minneapolis, call us today at 612-236-1320.