Should he sue McDonald's?

Source: Jurij Kenda on Unsplash 

Teen, 17, suffers horrific burns when McDonald's tea spills on his leg

A teenager is considering sueing McDonald's after being left with horrific burns from a cup of tea when it spilled over his right leg.

Ben Lewis, 17, cannot work, drive, or shower easily due to the burns - which he is worried may scar him for life.

His family is now thinking of taking legal action against the fast food giant.

Ben needed urgent hospital treatment after the lid came off the cup when the car he was in went over a 5mph speed bump as he and his girlfriend left a McDonald's drive-thru in Newtown, Powys, on Friday.

The car was being driven by his girlfriend, Victoria Bennett, who then drove him straight to her house for a cold shower to calm the wound.

However Ben started screaming in pain so she then took him to Welshpool Hospital where he received treatment for his burns.

His leg is now covered in blisters.

The teenager, who works in his mother's nightclub, is now unable to drive and cannot even take a shower without wrapping the painful burn in bandages.

He has had to take time off work is not expected to go back for at least two weeks.

Ben, from Telford, Shropshire, said: 'It's so dangerous, it could have been a baby or a young child that was burnt, and that would have been so much worse.

'Obviously the lid wasn't properly put on the tea. It only took going over a speedbump to get tea all over me.

'It was incredibly painful, I screamed when it happened and yanked my trousers down to stop them sticking to me.

'I went immediately to my girlfriend's house, where I had a cold shower and had to go to the hospital that night. I took some powerful painkillers, and had my leg wrapped in clingfilm, to protect the burns.

'I'm going to have to go back to hospital at some point.

'The blisters have gone down a bit now, but it's still so painful and sore. I've been worried about bursting the blisters and causing scarring.

'I've been told that the blisters won't go for another month or so and who knows what my leg will look like after that.

'It's scary that they serve tea at that temperature with lids that aren't put on right.'

His father, Tony Lewis, said: 'I think we should sue them. McDonald's shouldn't be able to get away with this.

'What happened was absolutely horrific and he can't even walk at the moment. The tea must have exceeded the maximum heat that it's meant to be served at.

'They shouldn't be able to get away with it*, and they won't get away with it I hope. I'll be in contact with a solicitor shortly.

A McDonald's spokesman said: 'We are very sorry to hear of this accident. We will launch an urgent investigation to ensure our usual safety safeguards are in force.'

It's not the first time McDonald's has come under fire for the temperature of its drinks.

In an infamous U.S. case in 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck won just over £2million from the fast food giant after being scalded by a cup of coffee she had ordered from the drive-thru.

Source: Daily Mail 

Do you think he should sue McDonald's? Do you think he would win?

Can you think of any other controversial cases of suing?

Phrasal Verbs:

*to get away with: you don't get caught, punished or criticised for doing something wrong.

• I arrived late for work this morning again but I got away with it. The boss wasnt in today (I wasn't caught)
• If the police can't find proof that he committed the crime, he might get away with it. (he won't get punished)
• He got away with a warning. (he only got a warning, the consequences could have been worse)
• Can I get away with wearing jeans to the opera? (will anyone criticise me for wearing jeans?)
• The children get away with murder. (they misbehave and can do all kinds of bad things but they go unpunished)

Have you ever got away with someone or know someone that has?