Holding Businesses Accountable for Preventable Burn Injuries
A scalding coffee burn may sound minor—until it happens to you or someone you love. These injuries can result in second- or third-degree burns, lead to permanent disfigurement, and require painful skin graft surgeries. When a business serves dangerously hot beverages without proper safeguards, it may be legally responsible for your injuries.
At Williford Law, PLLC, we represent individuals in Texas who suffer coffee burn injuries caused by negligent businesses, fast-food chains, restaurants, and cafes.
When Is a Business Liable for a Coffee Burn?
Texas businesses owe a duty of care to customers. If they serve a beverage that causes a burn injury due to excessive temperature, faulty packaging, or lack of warning, they may be held liable under premises liability or negligence law.
Common legal grounds include:
- Serving coffee at an unsafe or superheated temperature
- Failing to secure lids properly
- Using defective or flimsy cups
- Spilling hot beverages on customers during service
- Not warning customers about risks (e.g., drive-thru hand-offs, unstable lids)
We investigate whether the business violated industry safety standards or ignored past complaints about unsafe practices.
Coffee Burn Injury Case Example: The McDonald’s Precedent
The well-known Liebeck v. McDonald’s case (1994) involved a 79-year-old woman who suffered third-degree burns from coffee served at 180–190°F—hot enough to cause full-thickness burns in seconds. She required multiple skin grafts and was hospitalized for over a week.
This case set a national standard for evaluating:
- Whether the coffee was unreasonably hot
- Whether the business failed to warn or act responsibly
- The extent of the medical harm and long-term disfigurement
At Williford Law, we use precedent, expert evidence, and injury documentation to hold businesses accountable for similar behavior.
Types of Injuries Caused by Hot Coffee Burns
Coffee-related burn injuries are often underestimated. We represent clients with:
- Second- and third-degree burns
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Infections or complications from open wounds
- Skin grafts and reconstructive surgery
- Emotional distress and PTSD, especially in children
Burns may occur on the lap, hands, face, chest, or thighs, depending on whether the spill happened in-store, in a vehicle, or during a drive-thru transaction.
Who May Be Liable?
Liability may fall on:
| Party | Examples of Negligence |
| Restaurants / Cafes | Overheating coffee, unsafe lids, poor hand-off techniques |
| Fast food franchises | Failure to follow internal temperature protocols |
| Convenience stores | Lack of cup carriers or safety signage |
| Delivery services | Spilled beverages due to poor transport practices |
We identify all responsible parties and pursue maximum compensation from each.
Compensation for Coffee Burn Injuries in Texas
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses (hospitalization, wound care, surgery)
- Future medical needs (scar revision, therapy)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma or loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost income (if applicable)
- Permanent disfigurement damages
Our goal is to ensure every dollar of harm is accounted for—now and in the future.
What to Do After a Coffee Burn Injury
- Seek immediate medical treatment.
- Take photographs of the injury, the cup, the lid, and the spill site.
- Keep all medical records, receipts, and prescriptions.
- Save the container or any evidence, if possible.
- Contact an attorney before speaking with insurance or corporate reps.
Do not accept a refund, gift card, or apology in place of a proper legal settlement.
