Food Poisoning Claims

Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. In most cases, we receive food poisoning claims from our clients who have suffered from foods contaminated by bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli or Norovirus.

Key Points to Remember When Claiming for Sickness on Holiday

  1. Responsibility of Service Providers
    Hotels, tour operators, and other service providers are legally responsible for ensuring your safety during your stay, including maintaining hygiene standards and safe environments.
  2. Types of Claims You Can Make
    You can claim compensation for illness caused by food poisoning, poor maintenance, unsafe practices, or other failures by your service provider.
  3. Regulation for Package Holidays
    If you’ve booked a package holiday, your claim may be covered by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (Regulation 2).
  4. Documentation
    Keep all your travel documents, such as booking details, receipts, and a diary of events, to support your claim.
  5. No Win, No Fee
    You can make a No Win, No Fee claim, meaning you only pay if your claim is successful.

You Deserve To Be Safe

Claims 24 are here to support you whatever the circumstances.

What Kinds of Holiday Sickness Claims Can I Make?
Holiday sickness claims typically arise when unsafe practices or poor conditions cause illness during your trip. Common claims involve food poisoning, contaminated water, or unsanitary hotel environments. These illnesses can ruin your holiday and sometimes result in financial losses due to medical expenses or missed activities.

Causes of Holiday Illnesses
Holiday illnesses often stem from contaminated food or exposure to unsafe environments, such as poorly maintained gas appliances. Here’s a breakdown of common illnesses and their causes:

  1. Food Poisoning
    Typically caused by eating contaminated food, symptoms usually start within 1-5 days and can include stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Severe cases may require medical treatment.
  2. Salmonella
    A bacterial infection found in undercooked poultry, eggs, milk, and some animals. Symptoms include stomach cramps, fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea and can last up to a week. Antibiotics may be needed if symptoms persist.
  3. Gastroenteritis
    Caused by poor hygiene and contaminated food, gastroenteritis leads to vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration. Vulnerable individuals may need hospital care.
  4. E-coli
    While most E-coli strains are harmless, some can cause severe illness. It can be contracted through undercooked meat or contaminated water. Symptoms include severe stomach pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhoea, and it can sometimes lead to kidney damage.
  5. Cryptosporidium
    This parasite is spread through contaminated water or surfaces infected with faecal matter. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea, and the illness can last up to two weeks.
  6. Norovirus
    A highly contagious virus, commonly spread in crowded environments like hotels and cruise ships. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, and muscle aches, and typically last for 1-2 days.
Food-Plate

Get In Contact Today To Start Your Claim!

Starting your claim is easy! Call us on our 24/7 helpline or email us to get a response from one of our expert team members.

Frequently Asked Questions

You typically have around 3 years to start your personal injury claim and the time is counted from the date of your accident. If the date of your accident is approaching limitation, we can apply for an extension in most cases to ensure you do not lose the right to claim.
There are exceptions to the three-year rule in some cases, so if you think you might have a claim we advise you to contact us as soon as possible so we can determine your chances for successful compensation.

If you are making a claim for an accident at work then there are 3 main exceptions to the three-year rule:

  • Mental Capacity – if your loved one no longer has the mental capacity to make a claim themselves
  • Working Abroad – if your accident happened while you were working abroad.
  • Defective Work Equipment – if your injury was caused by equipment that had a manufacturing defect.

The amount of compensation varies depending on the type of accident, the severity of the illness or injury, and the individual situation as each person can be affected differently.

As the amount varies case to case, our personal injury solicitors can assess your situation and provide you with a more accurate quote. For a quick estimate on how much you could be entitled to, why not visit our claims calculator?

Depending on your case you can claim for both general and special damages.
General damages are made up of the pain, suffering and loss of amenities due to the injury caused. This will be detailed in the medical report written by the medical expert following an independent examination.

Special damages:

  • Travel Expenses
  • Medical Care & Prescription Costs
  • Rehabilitation
  • Loss of Earnings
  • Household Assistance & Adaptations
  • Vehicle Damage
  • Vehicle Hire, Storage & Recovery Charges
  • Any other out-of-pocket expenses

Yes. You can make a claim on behalf of a child under the age of 18 and/or if the claimant lacks the mental capacity. For all other claims, you are welcome to make an enquiry via our website or our contact centre for information which may assist your friend/relative who has been involved in an accident.

Claims 24 work on a no-win – no-fee basis.
No win, No fee is a risk-free way of getting compensation for an injury or illness that wasn’t your fault.
It means there are no upfront costs, and there are no legal fees to be paid in the unlikely event that your claim is unsuccessful.

If you win your claim, we may make the following deductions:
• A success fee of between 25% for winning – could be more in some cases
• The solicitor’s fee if this is unrecoverable – this is usually capped to a success fee
• The 3rd party insurers normally cover all legal fees, disbursements and expenses but if there is a shortfall, then this may be deducted from your compensation as a success fee usually capped at 25%

We believe there should be no surprises when making a claim with us, so anything you need to know when making a decision will be made clear from the get-go. Come and talk to us for free for impartial advice.

The average time from the moment you contact Claims 24 till the moment you receive your compensation payout is 6-8 months.
However, every situation is different and the time frame depends on many factors – one of them is your co=operation with us.

By providing all the correct information and attending all of the medical appointments on time (which we arrange for you), your file handler will be able to build a strong case on your behalf resulting in a quick, efficient payout.
Therefore, we kindly ask you to help us, and we will help you – because together we can achieve more.

1. Call us on 08000786088 or fill out our contact form
The first step is simple. All you have to do is get in contact and a member of our team will discuss your accident/ injury with you. We will gather information regarding your claim and advise you on how best to proceed.

2. Complete Claim Requirements
Once we have all the details of your case, we will put together your claim and manage your case from the first day to the last. You can be assured that we will do everything in our power to get you the compensation you deserve.

3. Receive Compensation
Once your claim has been successful, we will send your compensation to you! If we don’t win, we won’t charge you a penny. You can be sure you’ll receive maximum compensation for your injuries!

For more information on how to claim and an in-depth process, visit our ‘How To Claim’ page.

The symptoms of food poisoning will vary on an individual basis. Factors such as age, weight and the type of bacteria causing the poisoning will result in different symptoms manifesting. Below you can find common symptoms associated with food poisoning:

• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea, which may contain blood or mucus
• Stomach cramps and abdominal (stomach) pain
• A lack of energy and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• A high temperature (fever)
• Aching muscles
• Chills
• Fatigue (loss of energy)

Food poisoning is typically caused by one of two things:

The first is bacteria. Bacteria is by far the most widespread cause of food poisoning. E. coli, listeria, and salmonella are very common culprits when it comes to food poisoning.

The second is parasites. Parasites are a type of germ which survive in animals and water such as ponds and lakes. Local tap water used abroad to wash salads and fruits can carry parasites and is a common cause of holiday illness. Parasites found in swimming pools are not killed by the use of chlorine.

Gathering Evidence
To make your claim as strong as possible, collect the following evidence:

  • Witness Statements: From fellow guests who experienced similar symptoms.
  • Photographs: Of any unhygienic conditions or maintenance issues.
  • Health and Safety Documentation: Details of the hotel or restaurant’s hygiene and health protocols.
  • Food Diaries: If food poisoning is suspected, document what you ate before and after the incident.
  • Medical Reports: From your doctor, confirming your illness and diagnosis.
  • Complaint Forms and Booking Documents: Proof of your stay and any complaints you made.
  • Financial Loss: Documentation of any money lost due to missed activities or time off work.

Once we have all the necessary evidence, our expert solicitors will help you file a claim against the service provider. If successful, the compensation will be paid from the hotel’s or tour operator’s insurance.

Ready To Start Your Claim?

Our expert claims handlers are available 24/7 to offer advice, guidance, and support when you need it most.
Group-of-People-Watching-The-Sunset-At-The-Beach

Call Us

0800 0786 088

Claim Online

Visit Our Make A Claim Page

Man-on-the-phone-1440x960

Request a callback

"*" indicates required fields

Full Name*