Hot Coffee Burns While Working in Chicago: How Do I Get Compensation?

Hot coffee burns can be more serious than many people realize. Hit liquids of any kind can cause severe pain, and they may lead to permanent disfigurement. Coffee often goes hand in hand with the workplace, and some employees may suffer these kinds of injuries on the job. Can you recover compensation for hot coffee burns at a Chicago workplace? Could a workers’ compensation lawyer help in this situation?

Compensation for Coffee Burns at Drive-Thrus in Chicago

Many coffee-related burn injuries involve drive-thrus. A typical accident occurs after a staff member passes a hot cup of coffee to a driver. The lid then slips off, and the hot coffee causes serious burns after spilling onto the driver.

This type of accident may lead to a workers’ compensation claim under certain circumstances. First, you are unlikely to have a valid claim if you were on your way to work at the time of the accident. In this situation, you have not yet “clocked in” for work. You are also engaging in activities unrelated to your normal work duties, and you are not on the work premises. However, you may still have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit against the restaurant for your hot coffee injury. In many cases, personal injury lawsuits can be more lucrative than workers’ comp claims.

If you were injured during lunch break or coffee break after clocking in, you may have more options. First, consider whether you left the worksite to visit the drive-thru after being instructed to do so by your supervisor. For example, your manager might have asked you to pick up lunch or coffee for the entire team during your break. If this is the case, you may argue that your injury occurred while you were performing work-related duties.

What if Your Hot Coffee Injury Occurred at the Worksite?

If you never left the work premises, you may also have the option to file a workers’ compensation claim after a hot coffee injury. Generally speaking, these claims should be easier than claims involving drive-thrus because they involve accidents on work premises.

For example, you might have been injured by hot coffee at a cafeteria in your workplace. Perhaps you served yourself a cup of coffee from a coffee machine meant for all employees. Even if this machine did not malfunction and you spilled the coffee onto yourself, you could theoretically file a claim because the coffee machine is an integral part of the workplace. It was also installed by your employer. You may have less luck if you were injured by hot coffee that spilled from your own thermos or travel mug that you brought to work yourself.

Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Chicago Help With Burn Injuries? 

If you suffered a burn injury at work, you should be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. Even if you spilled hot coffee on yourself during a break, you may still qualify for compensation. Do not dismiss this possibility simply because someone told you that it “doesn’t count” as a workplace injury. Instead, review your options with a Chicago workers’ comp lawyer. Contact Connolly Injury Law today to continue this discussion.

Source: 

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