Wrongful Death Lawsuits Filed against Panera for Caffeinated Lemonade

Because of their popularity, people may be surprised to hear that caffeinated drinks can be fatal. Of course, it’s important to point out that these are rare instances, and it’s unlikely that you will be injured from downing an energy drink for a mid-afternoon boost.

However, deaths among individuals from sudden cardiac arrest have been noted in people that have consumed sports drinks, energy drinks, and other beverages with high amounts of caffeine. According to a article published by the National Library of Medicine, “these beverages could easily lead to severe cardiovascular events in young and older individuals who have underlying silent cardiovascular disease.”

The article also points out that these drinks contain ingredients that many people would not recognize as sources of caffeine. For example, “ingredients such as guarana, ginseng, and taurine have caffeine concentrations in different energy beverages that are equal to, or higher than those found in coffee.”

This is a key factor with cases involving Panera Bread Charged Lemonade, which contain gharana. Crawford said that the addition of this ingredient means that you are getting the same amount of caffeine from one 30-oz Charged Lemonade as you would from 3 Red Bulls.

There’s no disputing that this is an alarming amount of caffeine, even if you don’t have cardiovascular issues. In fact, the USDA recommends no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day for a healthy adult. That means one Charged Lemonade is almost an entire day’s worth of caffeine. When you look at it that way, Panera Bread clearly has a duty of care to disclose the possible health risks associated with this beverage.

Yes, you can sue Panera Bread for wrongful death if your spouse, child, or other family member died from drinking the company’s Charged Lemonade. However, there are certain elements you will need to prove in order to qualify for a wrongful death compensation claim.

For example, you must show that the decedent had a preexisting health condition, such as heart disease or high blood pressure. These individuals should avoid highly caffeinated drinks, which can increase their heart rate at dangerous levels. In addition, you must prove that your loved one’s death would not have occurred if they had not consumed the charged lemonade sold at Panera.

As for the company’s liability, we believe that its failure to clearly disclose the risks associated with these drinks makes them responsible if someone dies from drinking this lemonade. The company has enhanced their disclosures about this product and is in the process of lowering the caffeine content from 390 milligrams to 237 milligrams.

However, Panera is still responsible for injuries and deaths that occurred prior to these changes. As the victim of a corporation’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. To discuss your available legal options, call the wrongful death lawsuit lawyers of DTLA Law Group.

The average value of a wrongful death lawsuit is between $500,000 and $1,000,000, though we have had our share of cases that were settled for $5,000,000 or more. To calculate a wrongful death settlement value, there are many factors we need to examine. Primarily, we need to determine the economic and non-economic damages you are eligible to receive, which may include:

• Funeral costs
• Medical bills up until the victim’s death
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of expected income / savings / benefits
• Cost of hiring an attorney

The decedent’s age and their role in your life, as well as the degree of negligence by the defendant also have a big impact on case values. Ultimately, you must speak with an experienced California wrongful death lawyer to figure out what your lawsuit is worth.

On average, it takes 1 to 2 years to settle a wrongful death lawsuit if we are able to negotiate a settlement with Panera Bread’s insurance company. If we need to take your case to trial, settling a Charged Lemonade wrongful death case may be settled in 3 to 4 years. It should be noted that most cases are settled out of court, even if a trial date is scheduled. Based on Panera Bread’s willingness to admit liability, it’s possible that a settlement will be reached within 6 months. However, we find that the vast majority of cases require at least 12 months before both sides agree on the amount of compensation for a wrongful death lawsuit.

A lawsuit for wrongful death must be filed within 2 years from the date of the victim’s death. To ensure that your claim is filed within the statute of limitations under California laws, contact our law firm right away. If you do not initiate a claim within 2 years of your loved one’s passing, you will permanently lose the right to sue Panera Bread for monetary damages. Our lawyers are ready to take immediate action on your behalf, so please call to schedule a free consultation.

The pain of losing a spouse or member of your family can’t be erased by money, but surviving loved ones should not have to struggle with medical bills, funeral costs, and other expenses that are left behind by a tragic death. Aside from covering these losses, compensation is a way to hold companies responsible when someone is harmed as a result of negligence.

If your family member died from consuming Panera Bread’s Charged Lemonade, please allow us to advise you of your rights during a free case evaluation. If you are eligible for a lawsuit against the restaurant, a wrongful death attorney will take immediate action on your case at no upfront cost. Legal fees are paid by Panera Bread as long as we win your lawsuit, so there’s no cost to you in the event we fail to recover your settlement.

We look forward to representing your interests and fighting for the justice you deserve.