I Was Burned by Hot Coffee. Can I Sue?

Coffee is a beverage intended to be hot. But over the years lawsuits have come up from people who have suffered disfiguring burns from hot coffee. Initially, many people thought the claims were absurd, but after plaintiffs began winning cases, many restaurants lowered the temperature of their hot beverages. Does this mean that you can sue a restaurant or food chain if you suffer a coffee burn?

First, the most important thing for you to realize is that every personal injury case is different. Each case has unique circumstances. So just because you suffer a coffee burn does not necessarily mean that you will win a lawsuit.

One factor that may determine if you can sue over a coffee burn is how hot the coffee was in comparison to other restaurants.  If the cup of coffee that burned you was at least twenty degrees hotter than coffee served at other restaurants, you may have a case.

However, many establishments have well-placed warning labels on their coffee cups that caution consumers to be careful. This label protects restaurants from lawsuits.

But you may still be able to file a lawsuit. If you suffer a burn because the cup itself was defective, you may be able to obtain just compensation.

Ultimately, your case depends on many factors including the temperature of the coffee, the quality of the coffee cup, and whether there was adequate warning that the coffee was hot. It also depends on the experience, skill, and zealousness of the attorney you hire to represent you.