Can I Sue After Being Burned At A Pennsylvania Restaurant?
When you visit a restaurant in Pennsylvania, the expectation is that you will be treated with respect and care as you enjoy a tasty meal. However, a visit to a restaurant can also leave you with severe burns. When you consider the nature of a restaurant business, it should come as no surprise that burns are a legitimate risk. These establishments deal with hot food and liquids on a daily basis, and even a slight spill or mishap can result in excruciating injuries for innocent customers. So what happens after you have suffered serious burns at a restaurant? Can you sue?
In order to have this question answered in a clear manner, it’s best to consult with a qualified, experienced personal injury attorney in Pennsylvania. These legal experts have seen it all before, and they can help you determine whether or not you can sue. If you both decide that a lawsuit is in your best interests, your attorney can then guide you forwards towards a positive legal outcome.
Burn Injury Lawsuits are More Common than You Might Think
Although being burned at a restaurant might seem like a “freak accident,” lawsuits that cover these incidents are actually quite common. This shows that courts are willing to hear these lawsuits. Not only that, but plaintiffs often receive considerable settlements for burn injuries at restaurants.
Perhaps the most famous case involved a woman who was burned by hot coffee at a McDonald’s drive-through. She successfully sued the fast-food chain because the court determined that McDonald’s was aware that previous customers had suffered similar burns. If a restaurant has a long history of burning individuals and they do nothing to address the issue, it becomes easier to sue them for negligence. This is due to a legal concept called “foreseeability.”
Duty of Care
Restaurant owners also owe their patrons a duty of care. This means that as soon as someone steps inside a restaurant, the owner becomes responsible for their safety. They must make sure there are no spills or walking hazards, and the same applies to hot food and liquid that could pose a threat to innocent people.
Disfigurement
In some cases, a restaurant burn can leave you disfigured for the rest of your life. This is considered a very serious injury in the eyes of the court, as the effects of this injury are more than simply physical. A disfigured face can leave you with serious mental health issues as you struggle with self-confidence and the lack of romantic options. This means that a judge and jury will likely award you a much more substantial settlement to cover these non-economic damages.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Legal Professional Today
For help from a skilled Scranton personal injury attorney, contact the Needle Law Firm. We have helped countless injury victims achieve positive results, and we can do the same for you. No one should be left to suffer after a burn at a restaurant, and you don’t have to pay for medical expenses and missed wages out of your own pocket. Instead, you can file a personal injury claim and receive compensation for your damages with a settlement. Book your consultation today.
