Alcoholic Beverages Lit On Fire At A Bar: Seeking Compensation For Burn Injuries Caused By Flaming Drinks

If you have been at a bar or nightclub at least once in your life, you have probably seen bartenders doing cool tricks, one of which is setting alcoholic beverages on fire. While setting cocktails on fire is a popular bartender trick, many things can go wrong with flaming drinks.

Just do a quick Google search on “Flaming drink has gone wrong” to understand what we are talking about. “However, if you are reading this, chances are you have learned the dangers of flaming shots the hard way,” says our San Diego burn injury attorney at the Simpson Law Group.

Suing the bartender and bar for burn injuries

The flaming shot trick backfires every now and then, putting the safety of customers in danger. More often than not, it is not just the person who is being served the flaming drink who is in danger, but also all those near him or her, including the bartender himself or herself.

In most circumstances, the victim who sustained burn injuries as a result of a flaming shot stunt has a right to sue the bartender as well as the bar or nightclub for failing to act responsibly and adhere to safety standards when setting the alcoholic beverage on fire.

The dangers of flaming drinks

Playing with fire is no joke, yet many bartenders continue to play with it while failing to take necessary precautions. While most people think that the most dangerous moment when ordering the flaming drink is the moment the bartender sets the beverage on fire, it is not the case.

In reality, after you have been served the flaming drink and you attempt to drink it, the drink may spill, burning your face, neck, hair, hands, and other parts of your body. Burn injuries from flaming drinks cannot only cause disfigurement or leave permanent scars but can also result in death.

Was the bartender negligent in serving the flaming shot?

Stories of women’s hair catching on fire during the flaming drink trick are not unheard of, yet it takes a lot to prove the bartender’s negligence in serving the drink to seek compensation for your burn injuries. Our experienced burn injuries attorney in San Diego explains that if you sustain injuries while attempting to drink the flaming shot (i.e. you spill the drink onto yourself), it may be difficult to recover damages.

After all, in most such situations, the bartender does not act negligently and cannot be reasonably expected to control how you drink the flaming shot. Oftentimes, however, bartenders choose to serve flaming shots to get more tips from customers even when the drink is not part of the bar’s regular menu. In that situation, you may be able to hold the bartender liable for your burn injuries, regardless of how you were injured.

More often than not, bars and their defense lawyers attempt to escape liability by claiming that the victim was too intoxicated when he or she was served the flaming drink, which contributed to the accident. Also, bartenders are no strangers to attempting to avoid liability by claiming that the tools and beverages used to make the fiery cocktail were defective.

Regardless of how you sustained your burn injuries at a bar while being served a flaming drink, consult with our San Diego burn injuries attorney at the Simpson Law Group to find out your legal options. Call our offices at 619-236-9696 or fill out this contact form to get a free consultation.