Holding Businesses Accountable When Unsafe Food Causes Serious Harm
Food poisoning is often dismissed as a minor inconvenience—but anyone who’s experienced a serious case knows better. Contaminated food can lead to severe illness, hospitalization, and long-term health complications. Dana knows this firsthand—after eating a soft shell crab, a treasured seasonal delicacy in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, she suffered a case of food poisoning so severe it required hospitalization. It was a miserable, exhausting experience—and no one should have to suffer through that because of a restaurant’s or manufacturer’s negligence.
At Palmetto State Injury Lawyers, we represent individuals who have suffered serious foodborne illnesses due to unsafe food handling, preparation, or production practices. We fight to hold negligent restaurants, grocery stores, suppliers, and manufacturers accountable when their carelessness puts consumers at risk.
Common Causes of Food Poisoning Cases
Food poisoning occurs when contaminated food or beverages contain harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. Common causes of serious foodborne illness include:
- Improper food handling or storage (e.g., not keeping food at safe temperatures)
- Cross-contamination from raw meats or unclean surfaces
- Under-cooked meat, poultry, or seafood
- Unwashed fruits and vegetables
- Unsafe food production practices at the manufacturing level
- Failure to follow basic hygiene standards by food handlers
- Contaminated ice, water, or beverages
South Carolina’s thriving hospitality and tourism industry—with its many restaurants, hotels, and food vendors—makes it critical for businesses to follow strict food safety protocols. When they don’t, innocent people get sick.
The Serious Impact of Foodborne Illness
For some people, food poisoning means a few miserable days. But for many, especially the very young, elderly, or those with underlying conditions, it can result in:
- Severe dehydration
- Hospitalization for IV fluids and monitoring
- Long-term gastrointestinal issues
- Kidney damage (e.g., from E. coli infections)
- Neurological complications
- Lost wages and income during recovery
- Significant out-of-pocket medical expenses
Beyond the physical suffering, the emotional toll of a serious foodborne illness—and the financial strain it creates—can be overwhelming.
How We Prove Liability in Food Poisoning Cases
Food poisoning cases are complex because proving where and how the contamination occurred requires careful investigation. At Palmetto State Injury Lawyers, we work to:
- Identify the source of contamination through medical testing and government safety reports
- Investigate food handling practices at the restaurant, store, or manufacturer level
- Obtain inspection records and prior health violations
- Work with experts to establish how the contamination occurred
We understand the defenses these businesses will raise—and we’re ready to fight back.
Why Choose Palmetto State Injury Lawyers?
Food poisoning cases aren’t as “glamorous” as high-speed car wrecks or TV ad injury claims—but they matter. They matter because they affect real people in painful, personal ways.
Dana knows how miserable a serious case of foodborne illness can be because she’s lived it. That personal experience drives the passion she brings to representing clients who’ve suffered the same fate. She doesn’t dismiss these cases as “just bad luck.” She fights to hold negligent businesses accountable—whether it’s a local restaurant, a national chain, or a large food manufacturer.
At Palmetto State Injury Lawyers, you get personal, attentive representation—not a high-volume, assembly-line experience. We take your case seriously because we know exactly how serious it is.