By now, everybody has heard of the infamous McDonald’s case, where an elderly woman going through a drive-thru at a McDonald’s placed hot coffee in her lap, which caused injuries. A trial took place, and the elderly woman Plaintiff was awarded several million dollars in damages. “That’s ridiculous!” and “The jury system is out of control!” are common reactions to this case. Those who advocate against victims’ rights have done a truly amazing job of distorting the facts.
In reality, McDonald’s had been warned on several previous occasions that the hot coffee temperatures were extremely dangerous and not in conformity with California law. Also, the burns suffered by the victim were extraordinarily severe, causing second-degree vaginal burns necessitating extensive painful surgery. And ultimately, the substantial award that many point to as being outrageous was substantially reduced by the court.
Burn injuries are extremely serious and painful. A second-degree burn typically occurs from scalding liquids, which cause extreme blistering, loss of skin, and a high risk of infection. These burns must be treated immediately at a hospital and, for victims, are extraordinarily painful. These types of cases often are seen due to negligent food and beverage service, from failure to monitor water temperatures at hotels, public establishments, and the like.
Third-degree burns are usually caused by fire and represent the most heinous and dangerous type of burn case imaginable. Third-degree burns are often deadly, and the road to recovery for survivors of third-degree burns is long and painful. Furthermore, the scarring left by third-degree burns is often grotesque and physically and emotionally permanent. These cases typically arise from defective products, or ordinary negligence resulting from an individual’s carelessness.