Raleigh Personal Injury Lawyer Discusses How “Hot Coffee” Can Get a Business in “Hot Water”!

by Kurtz & Blum, PLLC in Personal Injury
how hot coffee can get a business in hot water

In September, Dunkin’ Donuts settled a personal injury claim for $522,000. A customer allegedly tripped over a spike in the parking lot and spilled hot coffee on herself, sustaining injuries that required surgery in January of 2012.

Last March, we wrote an article about a similar parking lot incident at a McDonald’s.

A lot of people fall as a result of hazardous conditions, however most decide not to make a claim because their injuries are minor or they are simply embarrassed and think that the fall could be due to their own contributory negligence.

Any company could be found liable for negligence when it comes to the safety of their patrons. I believe that every personal injury lawyer supports the need for companies to be more cautious and aware of safety issues in and around the premises of a business. Someone at each location needs to be in charge of safety and perform routine inspections.

In this case, the owner of the strip mall was also involved due to the condition of the parking lot where the incident happened. According to reports, a misplaced metal rebar spike was protruding out of the asphalt, causing the victim to trip and spill coffee on herself. It is quite possible this violates parking lot maintenance standards meant to keep the general public safe. Indeed, a lot of accidents are caused by hazardous conditions on a company’s premises.

If something like this has happened to you or someone you know, there is the option to go after the negligent parties, even if they are some of the biggest names in their industry. You will need help from a skilled personal injury attorney with a trusted law firm like Kurtz & Blum, PLLC to get the compensation deserved for injuries, emotional pain, suffering, and medical expenses.

Sources:

  • New Jersey Dunkin’ Donuts settles personal injury lawsuit for $522,000, CNBC, September 15, 2015
  • Hot Coffee Lawsuits Keep Coming. Are You Ready?, Daily Coffee News
  • Settlement Value of a Burn Injury Claim, All Law