Dunkin’ Coffee Burn Settlement – Case Facts & Legal Options

A quick coffee stop shouldn’t leave you injured for life. Hot coffee or tea spills from loose lids, overfilled cups, or careless handoffs can cause serious burns. If you were hurt in a Dunkin’ spill, you may have the right to seek compensation and hold the responsible parties accountable.

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When a Dunkin’ Hot Coffee or Tea Spill Turns Into a Burn Injury Lawsuit

If a hot beverage from Dunkin’ causes a serious burn, the company may be legally responsible when the injury involves:

If a hot beverage from Dunkin’ causes a serious burn, the company may be legally responsible when the injury involves:
• Coffee or tea served at dangerously high temperatures
• Loose, defective, or improperly secured lids
• Unsafe drive-thru or counter hand-offs
• Cups that collapse, tip, or spill immediately after delivery
• Failure to warn customers about extreme burn risks

 

These incidents happen at Dunkin’ locations nationwide, and injured customers may have legal options under state and local injury laws.

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Case Study — Dunkin’ Coffee Burn Settlement

Case Facts & Legal Options

Compensation Awarded:
💰$3 million settlement

1. Case Summary

Incident:
On February 18, 2021, a 70‑year‑old woman was severely burned by hot coffee at a Dunkin’ drive‑thru location in Sugar Hill, Georgia. The lid of the coffee cup came off immediately after it was handed to her, causing scalding coffee to spill on her thighs, groin, and abdomen. The plaintiff suffered second‑ and third‑degree burns, required extensive skin grafts, and spent significant time in a burn unit.

Settlement:
The plaintiff’s legal team reached a $3 million settlement with Golden Donuts, LLC (the local Dunkin’ franchisee) to compensate for her injuries, medical care, pain and suffering, and life‑altering impact. FOX 5 Atlanta

2. Injury Severity & Impact

Medical Consequences:

  • Suffered second‑ and third‑degree burns

  • Required weeks in a hospital burn unit

  • Received skin grafts

  • Faced long‑term pain, limited mobility, and an altered lifestyle

  • More than $200,000 in medical expenses were documented by her attorneys. 

Her attorney emphasized that the injuries affected her ability to walk without pain, avoid sun exposure, and manage burn care daily — illustrating how a spill that might seem “minor” can have serious health and quality‑of‑life implications.

3. Key Legal Issues

A. Negligence in Cup Handling
The lawsuit alleged that the employee failed to properly secure the lid on the hot coffee cup before handing it through the drive‑thru window — a key factor directly linked to the spill and subsequent burns. 

B. Foreseeability and Customer Safety
Hot beverages are known to cause severe burns if spilled. Attorneys argued that proper training and safety procedures — including secure lid placement and spill prevention — were not followed, and that the store failed to protect customers from foreseeable harm.

C. Franchise Liability
The suit was against the franchisee (Golden Donuts, LLC) that operated the Sugar Hill Dunkin’ — a legal distinction often made in restaurant cases where an individual franchisee, rather than corporate headquarters, holds liability for on‑site operations and employee conduct.

4. Settlement Outcome & Significance

Monetary Compensation:
The $3 million settlement provided financial recovery for:

  • Medical bills

  • Future healthcare needs

  • Pain and suffering

  • Disability and lifestyle alteration

This six‑figure payout reflects both the seriousness of the injuries and the strength of the negligence claim.

No Admission of Fault:
As is typical in settlement agreements, the defendant did not admit wrongdoing as part of the resolution. Settlements allow plaintiffs to recover compensation without the uncertainty of a jury trial.

5. Related Cases & Broader Context

This case is part of a broader pattern of hot beverage burn claims against fast‑food and coffee chains. Even decades after the famous McDonald’s hot coffee case (Liebeck v. McDonald’s), similar incidents continue to occur, highlighting ongoing issues with beverage handling and consumer safety.
McDonald’s hot coffee burn lawsuit

6. Legal Options in Coffee Burn Cases

If someone is injured by a spilled hot beverage in a restaurant or drive‑thru, the major avenues include:

A. Negligence Claim

To succeed, a plaintiff typically must show:

  1. Duty of Care: The business owed the customer a duty to serve beverages safely.

  2. Breach: Failure to exercise reasonable care (e.g., improper lid placement, unsafe handing).

  3. Causation: The breach directly caused the burn injury.

  4. Damages: The injury resulted in measurable harm (medical bills, pain/suffering).

This framework is foundational in personal injury law.

 

Primary Source Links

Dunkin’ Lid Failure Burn – Settlement

Confidential six-figure settlement (reported)

  •  What Happened:
    A Dunkin’ customer suffered second-degree burns after a hot coffee cup’s lid popped off while being handed over at the counter, causing scalding liquid to spill onto the customer’s lap and legs.
  •  Key Issue:
    Internal safety complaints indicated prior awareness of lid defects or loose-fitting cups, strengthening the victim’s claim.
  • Outcome:
    Dunkin’ resolved the case before trial through a confidential settlement.

Dunkin’ Drive-Thru Coffee Spill – Severe Leg Burns

Settlement Range: Mid-six figures

  • What Happened:
    A customer received hot coffee through a Dunkin’ drive-thru window. The cup tipped immediately, spilling coffee onto the legs and feet, resulting in emergency burn treatment and months of recovery.
  • Liability Factors:

    • Unsafe cup placement

    • No tray or stabilizer to secure the cup

    • Inadequate warning about beverage temperature

⚠️ Important: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Compensation depends on injury severity, evidence, and jurisdiction.

How The Hackett Law Firm Helps McDonald’s Injury Victims

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Why Dunkin’ Hot Coffee and Tea Spills Can Cause Serious Burns

Dunkin’ serves coffee and tea at very high temperatures, often between 170°F and 190°F. At these temperatures, even 1–3 seconds of skin contact can cause severe burns, particularly during spills at drive-thru windows or counters.

Medical and burn experts note that extremely hot liquids can lead to:

  • Second- and third-degree burns in seconds

  • Deep tissue damage beneath the skin

  • Permanent scarring or disfigurement, especially on the legs, lap, hands, and groin

  • Nerve damage, potentially causing long-term pain, numbness, or loss of sensation

  • Infections and complications, sometimes requiring extended medical care or skin grafts

While both coffee and tea are hazardous, tea is often perceived as “safer”, which can make customers less cautious when handling the drink or checking the lid, especially in fast-paced Dunkin’ locations.

The risk of serious injury increases when hot beverages are combined with:

  • Loose, warped, or defective cup lids

  • Thin cups or inadequate sleeves

  • Rushed drive-thru or counter service

  • Improper placement on trays or surfaces

Even a brief spill of Dunkin’s hot coffee or tea can result in life-changing injuries. Many of these accidents are preventable, highlighting Dunkin’s responsibility to serve beverages safely and protect customers from serious harm.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Dunkin’ typically serves its hot coffee and tea at temperatures between 170°F and 190°F. While this is standard for many high-volume coffee chains to ensure the drink remains hot for commuters, it is significantly higher than the “safe” drinking temperature of 130°F to 150°F. At 190°F, liquid is near the boiling point and can cause severe injury almost instantly.

The danger lies in the speed of the burn. At 190°F, it takes only 1 to 3 seconds of skin contact to cause a deep, third-degree burn requiring skin grafts. Furthermore, if the coffee spills onto clothing (like a sweater or jeans), the fabric acts as a sponge, holding the scalding liquid against the skin and intensifying the damage.

While accidents happen, many “systemic” issues contribute to spills:

  • Lid Defects: Lids that are warped or improperly seated can “pop off” when the cup is gripped.

  • Flimsy Packaging: Larger cups (like the XL size) can sometimes lose structural integrity when full, causing the sides to buckle and the lid to fail.

  • Rushed Hand-offs: In fast-paced drive-thru environments, the exchange between the employee and the customer can be unstable, leading to a dropped cup.

If a spill occurs, every second counts to minimize tissue damage:

  • Remove Clothing: Immediately remove any fabric soaked in the hot liquid to stop the burning process.

  • Cool the Area: Run cool (not ice-cold) water over the burn for at least 15–20 minutes.

  • Seek Medical Help: If the skin is blistering, white, or charred, go to an emergency room or burn center immediately. Do not apply butter or ointments to a severe burn.

 

Contact a qualified attorney for a free case review and provide incident details and medical records.

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Frequently Asked Questions.

Burned by Hot Coffee or Tea?

You may be entitled to compensation. Speak with an experienced injury attorney today — your consultation is free.

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