Too Hot to Handle: When Restaurants Serve Dangerously Hot Drinks-Soups By Rocky Walton on November 10, 2025

A Reminder from the Famous McDonald’s Coffee Case

Nearly everyone has heard of the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit, but few people know the real story. In 1992, 79-year-old Plaintiff suffered third-degree burns on her thighs and groin when McDonald’s coffee spilled in her lap. The coffee was served at a shocking 180–190°F, hot enough to cause severe burns within seconds. Evidence revealed that McDonald’s had received over 700 prior burn complaints yet continued serving coffee at those unsafe temperatures.

The jury didn’t punish McDonald’s for serving coffee — they punished the company for knowingly serving coffee that could cause catastrophic injury. Liebeck was initially awarded nearly $3 million in damages, later reduced, but her case changed corporate food-safety practices across the country.

Sadly, decades later, we still see restaurants ignoring those lessons.

Our Experience: The Hidden Dangers of Hot Liquid Products

At Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers, we’ve handled numerous cases involving dangerously hot beverages and soups served in unsafe packaging or handled carelessly by fast-food employees.

In one case, our client purchased a cup of hot soup from a local restaurant in the Arlington, Texas area. The soup — far hotter than it should have been — was poured into a thin styrofoam cup with a flimsy plastic lid, then wrapped tightly in layers of plastic wrap to prevent spills. The problem? Unwrapping the plastic wrap made it almost impossible not to spill the soup. When our client tried to remove it, the lid popped off and scalding liquid splashed onto her legs and buttocks, causing first- and second-degree burns.

She was hospitalized in the Parkland Hospital burn unit for several days, enduring painful treatment and left with permanent scarring. This entire event was preventable with safer packaging and better employee training.

In another recent case, we filed suit against a major Texas-based fast-food chain after a cup of unsecured, overheated coffee spilled on our client in a drive-thru, causing second- and third-degree burns on her lap and inner thighs. The burns left her with permanent scarring and emotional trauma. 

These incidents are not isolated. They demonstrate a recurring pattern of careless packaging, excessive temperatures, and inadequate staff training — all of which put customers at serious risk. When companies choose convenience and speed over safety, they can and should be held liable for the harm they cause.

When Hot Drinks and Soups Become a Liability Claim

Under Texas premises and product liability law, restaurants have a duty to:

1. Serve products that are safe for their intended use

2. Warn customers of known dangers

3. Use packaging that does not create unreasonable risks

When they fail in any of these duties — such as by serving excessively hot beverages, using unsafe containers, or ignoring prior complaints — they may be liable for negligence or product liability.

Common defendants in these cases include:

• Fast food restaurants (coffee, soup, hot chocolate, etc.)

• Cafés and coffee chains

• Convenience stores offering self-serve hot beverages

• Catering companies or delivery services packaging hot liquids

We pursue claims against the restaurant’s liability insurance carrier, seeking compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, scarring, and long-term psychological harm.

Why These Cases Matter

Some might dismiss “hot coffee” or “hot soup” lawsuits as frivolous — but our clients’ injuries prove otherwise. Burns from scalding liquids can:

• Require emergency treatment and skin grafts

• Cause infection or nerve damage

• Leave permanent disfigurement and emotional trauma

No one expects a cup of soup or coffee to send them to the hospital. These cases aren’t about minor discomfort — they’re about corporate accountability and consumer safety.

How We Hold Negligent Businesses Accountable

At Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers, we thoroughly investigate each case. That includes:

• Preserving the evidence — the container, lid, or cup design

• Securing temperature logs or preparation records from the restaurant

• Interviewing witnesses and employees

• Consulting burn experts and engineers to establish safe temperature and packaging standards

Our goal is to prove that the business failed to deliver a reasonably safe product, and that this failure directly caused the injury.

We negotiate aggressively with the defendant’s insurance company to reach a fair settlement without unnecessary delay — ensuring our clients receive justice and financial recovery as efficiently as possible.

Our Proven Track Record: 85% of Cases Settled for Top Value Without A Lawsuit

While many personal-injury attorneys immediately rush to file a lawsuit (often to justify charging a higher fee), our firm takes a more client-focused approach.

At Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers, we successfully settle approximately 85% of our cases for full, top value — without ever having to file suit.

Our strategy saves our clients time, stress, and unnecessary litigation expenses while still maximizing recovery. And when a lawsuit is truly necessary, we’re always ready to fight in court.

Our Reasonable and Fair Attorney Fee Structure

We believe quality representation shouldn’t come with inflated costs. Our pre-litigation attorney fee is a fair one-third (33⅓%), significantly lower than the higher percentages many firms charge once they file suit. Even as of 2025, there are many law firms that start at 40% attorney fees even without a lawsuit. 

Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers low fees means you keep more of your settlement — and you get experienced legal advocacy from a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer with decades of proven results.

If You’ve Been Burned by a Hot Beverage or Soup, We Can Help

If you or someone you love suffered burns from dangerously hot coffee, tea, soup, or another liquid served at an unsafe temperature, you may have a valid claim.

We encourage you to:

1. Seek immediate medical care and document all injuries

2. Keep all packaging and receipts from the purchase

3. Photograph burns and scarring

4. Contact our office before speaking with the restaurant’s insurer

You don’t have to face this alone. Our team has extensive experience with hot liquid injury and general-liability claims, and we’re ready to help you pursue justice and full compensation for your injuries.

Contact Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers

Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Rocky Walton and our experienced legal team serve injured clients throughout Arlington, Fort Worth, and the DFW area.

Call us today at 817-429-4299 or visit RockyWaltonInjuryLawyers.com to schedule a free consultation.