Holidaymakers Instructed Following Salmonella In Caribbean
Holiday Lawyers was recently instructed by the family of a holidaymaker who became seriously ill with Salmonella towards the end of a Caribbean holiday. Although he returned to the UK, he continued to suffer significant symptoms and remains affected by ongoing food intolerances and skin conditions which are likely linked to the original infection.
Unfortunately, cases like this are far more common than many people realise.
Whilst many people think of food poisoning as a short lived illness, the reality can be very different. Salmonella and other bacterial infections can cause severe dehydration, hospitalisation and prolonged periods of illness. In some cases, the consequences can continue for months, years or even permanently.
We regularly act for clients who develop post infective IBS, food intolerances, chronic fatigue, reactive arthritis, skin conditions and other long term complications following an acute gastric illness contracted abroad.
What If The Tour Operator Rejects Your Claim?
One of the biggest misconceptions in holiday illness litigation is that a rejected claim means there is no claim.
In our experience, many strong claims begin with a denial of liability.
Tour operators frequently argue that the illness was contracted on an excursion, that it was not reported to the hotel, or that there is insufficient evidence linking the illness to the holiday accommodation. These arguments are extremely common and, in many cases, can be successfully challenged.
Holiday Lawyers has recovered millions of pounds in compensation for holidaymakers whose claims were initially rejected. An early denial is often simply the starting position adopted by the tour operator rather than a reflection of the true merits of the claim.
Why Experience Matters In Salmonella Claims
Holiday illness cases sit at the intersection of law, medicine and microbiology.
Our team has decades of experience handling Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella and other food poisoning claims throughout the world. We have extensive experience of the hotels, resorts and destinations where these claims arise and understand the practical realities behind many outbreaks.
We also work closely with leading microbiologists and medical experts. Understanding incubation periods is often critical. The timing of symptoms can provide powerful evidence regarding where an infection was most likely contracted and can frequently undermine the explanations advanced by tour operators and their insurers.
Where a stool sample confirms a pathogen such as Salmonella, it can be extremely difficult for a tour operator to escape liability if the wider evidence points towards the holiday as the source of infection. However, the absence of a positive stool sample does not mean there is no claim. Many people are never tested, whilst others are tested after the infection has passed through their system. In those cases, experienced microbiologists can often identify the most likely infection by analysing the symptoms, severity, duration of illness and incubation periods involved.
Our founder, Aman Dhillon, has acted in some of the most significant holiday illness claims brought before the courts, including claims arising from the Grand Hotel outbreak in Italy, where holidaymakers suffered devastating illnesses and, tragically, some individuals lost their lives.
If your holiday illness claim has been rejected, or if you have suffered Salmonella, food poisoning or gastric illness whilst abroad, contact Holiday Lawyers for a free assessment. We have helped thousands of holidaymakers recover millions of pounds in compensation and would be delighted to help.
