The Center for Disease Control and Prevention.announced that Quarter Pounders sold at McDonald’s locations in the U.S. may have been contaminated with E. coli. In the recently identified outbreak, at least 49 people contracted the bacteria. So far, one person has died from the illness and 10 have been hospitalized.
Most cases of contamination were reported in Colorado and Nebraska, but 8 other states have had outbreaks as well. The person who died from E. coli infection was from Colorado, where 27 cases have been reported so far.
McDonald’s and the CDC are still trying to determine the contaminated ingredient that caused the outbreak. In its food safety alert, the CDC states, “McDonald’s stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states while the investigation is ongoing to identify the ingredient causing illness. McDonald’s is proactively making these changes while investigators work to confirm the contaminated ingredient.”
Along with trying to figure out the source of infection, the CDC is working to figure out if any other restaurants were sent the contaminated ingredients. In the meantime, there is no telling how many others will suffer the consequences of food poisoning. Sadly, mass outbreaks of E. coli and other foodborne illnesses are common, and most incidents are due to unsafe food prep and handling by restaurants.
Were you or a member of your family diagnosed with E. coli after eating a Quarter Pounder at McDonald’s? You may be eligible for a lawsuit against the company and others that failed to protect the public from a deadly outbreak. To discuss your rights and legal options with a McDonald’s E. coli infection lawsuit attorney, contact our law firm immediately.
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Causes of E. coli Infections
Most strains of E. coli transmission occur when bacteria in human or animal feces enter your digestive tract. Other strains can be transmitted through unpasteurized beverages and meat that’s undercooked. Causes of E. coli infections include:
- Consuming undercooked meat (not cooked to a safe internal temperature)
- Eating raw vegetables and fruits that are not washed thoroughly
- Drinking unpasteurized milk, juice, or cider (or eating foods made from these products, like ice cream and cheese)
- Drinking or getting contaminated water in your mouth
- Touching fecal matter or surfaces that are contaminated with E. coli bacteria
- Not wiping properly after a bowel movement, which can cause E. coli from feces to move into the urinary tract
Symptoms of E. coli
Symptoms of E. coli contamination usually take 3 to 4 days to appear after consuming food that’s contaminated. Common symptoms of E. coli include:
- Severe stomach pain
- Vomiting to the point where you cannot keep liquids down
- Bloody diarrhea
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Dizziness when standing up
- Inability to keep
Many people thankfully recover in about a week, but there are instances where E. coli produces the “Shiga toxin,” a deadly bacterium that causes kidney failure. Currently, we know of one child who is receiving treatment for a kidney disorder that was linked to the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder E. coli outbreak.
Compensation for E. coli Contamination Victims
Victims of E. coli contamination caused by Quarter Pounders sold at McDonald’s should contact us to explore the option of filing a food poisoning injury claim. A lawsuit can help you recover medical expenses, lost wages, and other monetary losses. Based on the degree of harm and suffering, you may also receive non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. By learning about these payments, you can obtain the compensation you deserve from a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder E. coli contamination lawsuit.
Death Caused by McDonald’s Quarter Pounder E. coli Outbreak
As we mentioned before, E. coli can have deadly consequences when it produces Shiga toxins (STEC). This strain of E. coli can cause severe damage to the kidneys and intestinal lining. Death caused by E. coli may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one died from earing a contaminated McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. Family members of the deceased can file a claim for medical costs, funeral expenses, loss of consortium, and other monetary damages.
For more information on suing McDonald’s for wrongful death benefits, contact a death by food poisoning lawyer at our office.
How Long You have to File a Food Poisoning Lawsuit
Lawsuits for injuries and health conditions caused by contaminated food have a deadline of 2 years. So, that’s how long you have to file a claim, starting from when you find out that you were infected with E. coli from eating a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwich. If you are seeking wrongful death benefits, the statute of limitations is 2 years from when the victim passed away.
Under limited circumstances, you may be allowed additional time to file a lawsuit, but these are rare cases, meaning you are bound to the statutory deadline of 2 years to sue McDonald’s or any other entity for the recent E. coli outbreak.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
E. coli and other deadly bacteria can cause harm and suffering for many people when there is negligence by the people that harvest, process, and prepare the food that’s contaminated. With that in mind, it’s essential to determine how the outbreak happened and ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable.
Here at Normandie Law Firm, we have a dedicated team of food poisoning lawyers that are ready to fight for your rights. We will not rest until you receive compensation from a McDonald’s E. coli infection lawsuit, whether you are the injured party or lost a loved one to complications from E. coli.
As all of our attorneys work on contingency, you will pay $0 out of pocket for the entire duration of your case. Our payment is recovered only if we secure your payment, either through a settlement or jury verdict. So, there’s no risk to your finances whatsoever if we fail to win your case.
Contact us today and schedule a free case evaluation to learn how you can sue for E. coli contamination of Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s.
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