In 1992, a 79-year-old woman named Stella Liebeck was burned by a cup of McDonald’s coffee that she had purchased from a drive-thru in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Liebeck had placed the cup between her knees while sitting in the passenger seat of a parked car and spilled the coffee, causing severe burns to her legs and groin. Liebeck required skin grafts and was hospitalized for eight days as a result of her injuries.
This case caused an uproar from the media and everyday people when she sued McDonald’s for her injuries. Liebeck filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s, claiming that the coffee was too hot and that the company had not properly warned customers of the risk of burns. The case went to trial, and a jury awarded Liebeck $2.86 million in damages. However, many people believed that the real reason this senior citizen filed the claim was due to greed and an inability to accept personal responsibility.
We see this kind of mentality during our day-to-day job as personal injury attorneys. It’s the kind of mentality that prevents those who were actually injured from fighting against insurance companies who are just trying to save a quick buck. This kind of thinking is also wide-spread when it comes to Slip and Fall Cases.
There are several negative myths surrounding slip and fall cases that can affect the outcome of these types of personal injury claims. Some of these myths include:
- Slip and fall accidents are not serious: Many people believe that slip and fall accidents are not as serious as other types of accidents, such as car accidents. However, slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. We always hear “Oh you slipped on an icy step, so what you probably just got a bruise.” In reality, a ‘simple’ slip can cause broken bones, concussions, and many more issues.
- Slip and fall accidents are the fault of the person who fell: Some people believe that slip and fall accidents are always the fault of the person who fell, and that they should have been more careful. However, slip and fall accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, including poorly maintained floors, uneven surfaces, or inadequate lighting.
- Slip and fall cases are easy to win: Many people believe that slip and fall cases are easy to win and that they do not require the services of an attorney. However, slip and fall cases can be complex, and it is important to have an experienced attorney who can help to gather and present evidence, identify the responsible party, and negotiate a fair settlement.
We fight for our clients regardless of the myths surrounding personal injury
We’ve helped countless people in New York receive the money they deserve for the negligence someone else was to blame for. This has helped our clients pay for the expensive medical bills that even ‘simple’ slip and falls can cause. We can’t control the price of a hospital visit and we can’t control how long an injury will have you bedridden for. But, we can fight against an insurance company that’s unwilling to pay what’s fair.