Are Energy Drink Hospitalizations Grounds for a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Energy drinks have been around for more than 100 years, in some form or another, though the market has been booming over the last decade or so. Along with the craze has come a flurry of health reports and studies which indicate that consuming them can be dangerous, if not deadly. As one of the latest wrongful death lawsuits goes to trial this month, many people are wondering whether manufacturers can be held responsible for harm caused by the products, and, if so, at what point does a personal injury case against an energy drink company have merit? Energy Drinks Hospitalize More than 20,000 People Each Year The United States government has an agency called The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which examines which harmful substances are being used throughout the country, and then tries to find way to curb abuse. As energy drinks started to become a major health epidemic, the group started to research just how large of a problem it was. Frighteningly, it was discovered that more than 20,000 people are admitted to the emergency room every year after consuming energy drinks. Approximately one-in-ten of them are required to remain in the hospital for treatment. A single FDA report regarding the popular brand 5 Hour Energy associates arrhythmia, vomiting, convulsions, spontaneous abortion, and even death, with the product. Caffeine is Often the Culprit Many energy drinks use caffeine to give people a boost, and will openly explain how their products work. Others attempt to conceal their active ingredient behind a veil, citing vitamins, minerals, and natural additives as the aid. For instance, Monster, Red Bull, Full Throttle, and Rockstar all contain Guarana, which is a naturally-occurring fruit, but is also a highly-concentrated form of caffeine. Young People are Most At-Risk SAMHSA says that younger people are more-likely to be admitted to the emergency room after consuming energy drinks. This coincides with a Consumer Affairs report, which found that around 31% of people between the ages of 12 and 19 consume energy drinks. Males also have a greater chance of being hospitalized than females. The wrongful death lawsuit mentioned earlier is indicative of this trend, as the deceased was a young man, just 19 years old. With that said, the group that has seen the largest increase in hospitalizations includes people ages 40 and up. Clearly, this is a nationwide epidemic that does not discriminate. Charleston Personal Injury Cases for Energy Drink Hospitalizations So far, most notable cases have been in other parts of the country. The one unfolding now is in California, and involves an extreme incident that resulted in death. Historically, these large companies have tended to settle out of court, rather than see an incident all the way through a trial, which means there aren't public records to indicate acceptance of fault, nor of settlement amounts.

Charleston Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been hurt as a result of an energy drink, or a similar product, you may be able to recoup your losses for medical care and other expenses. However, each case is different, and requires an expert litigation team to prove negligence on the part of the manufacturer. If you'd like a free consultation, please contact us using or online form, or speak to one of our attorneys by calling 1(800)610-2546.