Hepatitis A Food Poisoning Lawyer

Seeking Compensation for Hepatitis A Food Poisoning?

For more than three decades, our hepatitis A food poisoning lawyers have fought for the rights of those who have suffered with this foodborne illness. Our respected attorneys have secured multi-million-dollar settlements, including $14 million, $10 million, and $5 million, ensuring our clients receive proper compensation for their lost wages, medical expenses, and continued care. More than 100 of our clients have given us five-star Google reviews, and two of our partners are among the top 1% of trial lawyers in the US and the DC Metro area.

Drawing on our almost 200 years of combined experience and extensive knowledge of food safety laws and regulations, we’re not afraid to challenge producers, restaurants, or other establishments. Our board-certified trial lawyers will expertly build your case and backed by expert testimony will work tirelessly to ensure you receive justice.

Contact Regan Zambri Long today if you have been affected by hepatitis A food poisoning, and one of our attorneys will personally call you back. We understand that severe cases of foodborne illness can be exhausting and stressful, so we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for consultation. You won’t need to pay any fees unless we win your case.

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Why Should I Be Concerned About Hepatitis A Food Poisoning?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus that infects the liver, which means companies must be diligent in making sure their employees and their food are not contaminated. Failure to do so could lead to an outbreak of hepatitis A. Although it is not usually a long-lasting illness, people with weakened immune systems or underlying conditions may be at an increased risk to develop severe or long-term complications from the virus.

Why Should I Hire an Attorney Specializing in Hepatitis A Poisoning Cases?

You are not required to hire a food poisoning attorney to pursue a claim for contaminated food, but it is in your best interest to contact one as soon as you suspect an illness. Success requires taking immediate action, which can be difficult if you are still sick with hepatitis A. An experienced food poisoning attorney will investigate your case and help you request the appropriate tests to prove that contaminated food or lack of food safety caused your illness.

When considering a law firm and attorney, look for one with experience with cases like yours and a track record of success. Your case will most likely be handled by a legal team, so it is important that you trust everyone involved to pursue fair compensation on your behalf.

Regan Zambri Long’s DC Metro area law offices have taken on many food poisoning product liability cases, and we can also take on yours. Our personal injury lawyers are experienced in hepatitis A claims and can help you navigate the legal process of claiming the compensation you are owed. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next steps.

Can I Claim Compensation for a Food Poisoning Case?

Claiming compensation in a food poisoning case can be challenging, as you and your legal team must prove that a specific food or dining experience caused your infection.

Because symptoms so often mimic the flu or other stomach bugs, many people may not realize they experienced food poisoning, and quick detection is often the key to proving a case. Detecting this foodborne illness makes it much easier to pinpoint the source of the infection, increasing your chances of a successful verdict.

Can I Sue for Hepatitis A Food Poisoning?

When you can prove that a certain food or dining experience caused your illness, you can file a claim to hold the liable party or parties responsible.

Liable parties can include:

  • Restaurant, cafeteria, or other dining location
  • Grocery store or retailer
  • Other parties involved in the production and/or commerce of contaminated products

How is Hepatitis A Food Poisoning Compensation Calculated?

You can recover compensation for two kinds of losses: economic and non-economic.

  • Economic losses or damages are the direct financial impact on you, including medical bills, lost wages or earning capacity, and continued care or medication.
  • Non-economic losses or damages are not financial but include things such as mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment.

An experienced food poisoning lawyer will review your case and help you calculate the value of the damages you suffered, taking into account the longevity of your illness and any future losses. You can schedule a free consultation with one our personal injury lawyers online or by calling 202-960-4596.

What is Hepatitis A Food Poisoning?

The hepatitis A virus most often causes short-term liver infections. People who get sick can experience symptoms for a few weeks or a few months, depending on the severity of the case, but the majority of infections see complete recovery and no lasting liver damage.

Common hepatitis A symptoms include:

  • Clay-colored stools or dark urine
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Stomach pain
  • Vomiting
  • Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)

Some people, such as children younger than six, might not display any symptoms, making early detection difficult. If you suspect you have hepatitis A or have tested positive and your family ate the same food or at the same restaurant, it’s important to have them tested as well, even if they aren’t showing any symptoms.

For some people, however, the disease can have serious complications including acute liver failure and even death. People most at risk for these complications include older adults and people with underlying health conditions such as liver disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,648 new cases of hepatitis A in the United States in 2023, adjusting the number to 3,300 for case under-ascertainment and underreporting. 85 hepatitis A-related deaths occurred that year.

The CDC reports seven states are currently experiencing a hepatitis A outbreak, including Maryland. Although a hepatitis A outbreak can be caused by food poisoning, many outbreaks result from person-to-person contact.

How Does Eating Contaminated Food Cause Hepatitis A Poisoning?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease, which means that contamination can spread quickly and widely if appropriate food safety measures are not in place or followed.

 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these safety measures include:

 

  • Washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw food
  • Thoroughly washing hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers
  • Washing, sanitizing, and drying countertops, cutting boards, utensils, and the shelves and inside walls of refrigerators, which may have come into contact with infected foods
  • Thoroughly washing hands after the cleaning and sanitizing proces

When you consume food that has come in contact with the hepatitis A virus, you could develop an infection unless you have received the hepatitis A vaccine already. Additionally, if a food handler has hepatitis A, the virus can spread and contaminate your food.

Many cases of hepatitis A food poisoning come from an infected food handler who did not follow appropriate hygiene before preparing food. The germs then spread from the food preparer to the food, and then to you when you consume the food.

Contaminated Foods that Typically Cause Hepatitis A

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that most cases of hepatitis A cannot be definitively linked to any specific cause. When cases can be linked, the leading cause is close contact with an infected person. However, contaminated food or water is another linked cause of hepatitis A cases, primarily due to food preparers who have hepatitis A.

Certain foods that are linked with U.S. outbreaks include:

 

  • Shellfish
  • Raw vegetables
  • Fruits, especially berries, and salads.

Hepatitis A can also spread through cross-contamination. So even if your meal didn’t directly include a contaminated ingredient, if a knife, cutting board, or other preparation surface or tool was not properly sanitized between uses, the virus could infect your meal.

Why Choose Regan Zambri Long as your Food Poisoning Lawyers?

When you or your loved one is suffering from hepatitis A because of a certain food or dining experience, pursuing a legal case may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, if you must seek medical attention, or if your infection develops severe complications or turns into a long-term condition, you are entitled to compensation. If you find yourself in this situation, gather as much evidence as possible, such as:

 

  • Receipts
  • Leftover food
  • Medical records

The key to a successful case is a prompt diagnosis that links your illness to a particular meal.

The award-winning hepatitis A food poisoning lawyers at Regan Zambri Long are experienced in cases like yours and will move quickly to begin investigating your case and helping you secure medical documentation about your illness. We will shoulder the legal burden, building your case within legal frameworks such as the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and DC’s food safety regulations and calling on expert witnesses, so that you can focus on healing and recovery.

Regan Zambri Long’s attorneys and law offices are consistently recognized by peers and the press alike as the best of the best, which is also attested to by our track record of billions of dollars’ worth of successful verdicts. Our leading hepatitis

A food poisoning lawyer, Salvatore Zambri, together with Patrick Regan and Victor Long, is board-certified in civil trial law and civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Salvatore’s also the National Board Representative for the DC chapter of the invitation-only American Board of Trial Advocates, and he was named Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation by Best Lawyers.

Whether negotiating a settlement or taking your case to trial, you can be assured that Regan Zambri Long will pursue justice on your behalf until we make a recovery in your favor.

Our legal team works on a contingency fee basis, so we don’t collect any payments until we’ve obtained a settlement or verdict on your behalf. With law offices in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, we’re ready and able to take on your hepatitis A food poisoning case anywhere in the DC Metro area.

Call 202-960-4596 today to schedule your free case evaluation and begin your journey toward justice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hepatitis A Food Poisoning

Can someone with hepatitis A work in food service?

Food establishments are required to report any cases of hepatitis A among their employees. The FDA’s Food Code prohibits infected employees from working. Even if a diagnosis has not been obtained, food handlers should be excluded from work if they display hepatitis A symptoms, including such as:

 

  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Vomiting

An employee should only return to work with approval from the regulating authority and, ideally, with medical documentation stating that the infection is gone.

What are the signs and symptoms of hepatitis A?

Some common symptoms and signs of hepatitis A are common to other foodborne illnesses. Some of these include:

 

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Stomach pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Joint pain

 

These are often early symptoms of a hepatitis A infection. Other hepatitis A symptoms are more distinguishing, including:

 

  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dark urine
  • Clay colored stool
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

If you experience any of these symptoms, you may consult a doctor to rule out hepatitis A, especially if you have never received a hepatitis A vaccine. Although most patients recover without medical treatment, hepatitis A can affect liver function and result in severe complications.

How long does hepatitis A last?

Most people who experience hepatitis A symptoms begin showing them within two to seven weeks after direct contact. Infections generally last two months or less, though some people may continue to feel ill for as long as six months.

An infected person can spread the virus to others for up to two weeks before showing any signs or symptoms.

How is hepatitis A treated?

A blood test is used to determine whether someone has a hepatitis A infection. If taken early enough, a single dose of the hepatitis A vaccine may ward off a full infection. Usually, this is only effective within two weeks of exposure.

Most cases of hepatitis A do not require extensive medical care. A doctor will most likely recommend rest and adequate nutrition and hydration.

Severe cases are likely to require in-depth treatment or even a hospital stay. These cases may result in impaired liver function, liver transplant, or even death. Life-threatening infections are not common, but if you or your loved one suffers from a severe infection, you should consult with a Regan Zambri Long food poisoning lawyer for a free consultation.

How do people get hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease and it is transmitted in several different ways. Contaminated food and water or a food service employee who has the disease can lead to someone contracting the disease through a case of food poisoning.

However, there are other ways it can be spread, including through drug use and person-to-person contact. Hepatitis A is most commonly spread through fecal matter. This could be through contaminated water consumed directly or used in the production of food, the failure of food preparers to properly wash hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, or cross-contamination during the food preparation process.

What serious conditions can develop from hepatitis A?

Although most people recover from a hepatitis A infection without complications, some rare cases can turn into acute liver failure, which generally requires hospitalization and could even require a liver transplant.

Although hepatitis A does not cause liver disease, people infected with it who also have the liver disease will be at higher risk for additional complications within their livers.

Why should I hire Regan Zambri Long as my food poisoning lawyer?

At Regan Zambri Long, we know that every case is individual. Our attorneys review your case and take the actions that best serve you.

Founding member, senior partner, and vice president Salvatore Zambri is our key attorney for food poisoning cases. Best Lawyers named him 2020’s “trial lawyer of the year” for product liability litigation, and 2021 “best lawyer” for the same practice area. With 30 years of civil trial experience, Salvatore Zambri and his team are your top choice for a food poisoning product liability case.

Regan Zambri Long practices throughout the DC Metro area. You can schedule your free consultation today by calling 202-960-4596.

Contact Our Food Poisoning Attorneys Today

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Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

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