Instant Soup Burn Lawsuit

Free Consultations for Victims of Burns Involving Instant Soup Cups

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from dangerously hot noodle cups, you may have grounds to file an instant soup burn lawsuit. These burns can cause lasting damage and place a heavy financial burden on victims. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we represent individuals and families harmed by unsafe products, including instant noodle soup containers that spill or tip too easily. 

We understand the pain and hardship caused by serious burns and fight to hold negligent manufacturers accountable. Our product liability lawyers offer a free consultation to help you understand your legal options and whether you may be entitled to compensation.

What Are the Burn Risks Associated With Instant Noodle Cups?

Instant noodle soup cups may seem convenient, but they pose serious burn risks–especially to children.

Research shows that around 9,500 children each year suffer scald burns from instant soup and noodle soup burns. Many of these injuries involve the torso, legs, and hands, and can lead to permanent scarring, hospital stays, or even skin grafts.

One study found that 1 in 5 scald burns in children treated in emergency rooms are linked to instant noodle soup products. The average age of injured children is seven, and many are hurt when cups easily tip due to their narrow base or unstable containers.

Dangerous Packaging

Instant soup cups are linked to thousands of burn injuries each year due to dangerous packaging and poor design. Many are made with styrofoam cups that insulate boiling water, keeping the liquid dangerously hot for extended periods. Their narrow base makes them easily tip, especially when handled by children or placed on uneven surfaces. 

Instant noodle cups also have lids that don’t reseal, increasing the chance of spills. Many products also fail to provide proper instructions or visible warnings, leaving consumers—particularly those with limited mobility—at high risk from this hazardous product design.

Second- and Third-Degree Burns

Burns from instant soup spills are often severe, involving second and third-degree burns. The hot water and sticky noodles inside the cup can cling to skin, causing deeper injury than hot liquid alone. Victims who have suffered severe burns may need hospital stays, skin grafts, and long-term care. 

Burns often affect the torso, arms, and legs, especially when the cups are knocked over while being carried or eaten. Children are especially vulnerable, with noodle soup burns being a common cause of scald injuries among young children due to their smaller size and developing motor skills.

What Legal Rights Do Victims Have?

Victims who have suffered burns from instant soup cups may have the right to take legal action under Illinois product liability law. Under 735 ILCS 5/, injured consumers can file claims if a defective product, such as an inherently dangerous or unstable soup cup, caused their injury.

Common legal grounds for lawsuits include:

• Product liability claims: If the product’s design makes it unsafe, the manufacturer may be held responsible.
• Failure to warn: If the company didn’t provide adequate instructions or safety warnings about burn risks, they could be liable.
• Negligence claims: If a manufacturer ignored known dangers and continued selling a dangerous product without making changes, they may be found negligent.

Victims may be eligible to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering resulting from their injuries.

Example Burn Cases Involving Instant Cup Noodles 

In North Carolina, a woman filed an instant soup burn lawsuit after her daughter suffered second-degree burns when a container of instant noodle soup spilled on her. According to the lawsuit, the cup tipped over too easily, and the boiling water caused serious injuries. Reports indicate the case was later settled, suggesting the manufacturer may have recognized issues with the product’s design.

In Southern California, the City of Long Beach agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a family whose child was burned during a city-run summer camp. According to the complaint, staff gave the child a hot soup container without warning about the burn risks or ensuring safe handling. The hot liquid caused second-degree burns, requiring medical attention.

An investigative piece by the Chicago Tribune found that cup noodles are a common cause of burn injuries in children. Medical experts cited the unstable design of many instant noodle soup cups, which are prone to spilling water and dried noodles onto the skin. 

One pediatric burn specialist noted that the combination of hot water and sticky noodles often leads to deep burns, especially on the torso, which accounts for nearly 40% of reported cases. The article emphasized the need for better product safety, particularly for young children with developing motor skills.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Burn Injuries Caused by Instant Noodle Soup?

When someone has suffered burns from instant noodle soup, several parties may be legally responsible, depending on how the injury occurred and whether negligence or unsafe design played a role. Our experienced Chicago burn injury attorneys can help victims pursue an instant soup burn lawsuit to hold negligent parties accountable for the harm caused.

Manufacturers

Companies that design, produce, or distribute instant soup cups or cup noodles may be held liable if the product’s design is unsafe. This includes defective product materials like thin styrofoam or packaging that fails to include clear safety warnings or adequate instructions for handling hot liquids. 

If the product is found to be inherently dangerous, the manufacturer may be strictly liable under product liability laws.

Retailers and Distributors

Stores or distributors that sell dangerous or defective instant noodles could also share responsibility, especially if they knew or should have known about prior incidents involving burn risks. Retailers may also be liable for failing to pull dangerous products from their shelves or for not providing visible warnings at the point of sale.

Food Service Providers

In some cases, hot soup or instant noodle soup is served at gas stations, convenience stores, schools, camps, or care facilities. If employees hand over hot cups to customers without proper precautions, those businesses may be found negligent. Failing to prevent access to dangerous items or not warning about burn risks can lead to liability.

Private Facilities and Institutions

Facilities like schools, daycares, and camps that serve or allow access to instant noodle cups may be held accountable if children are burned under their care. These organizations have a duty to protect children from foreseeable hazards, including hazardous packaging and hot liquids. A failure to supervise, warn, or restrict access can expose them to legal claims.

What Damages Can Victims of Severe Burns Recover?

Victims who have suffered severe burns from instant noodle soup may be eligible to recover a range of damages through an instant soup burn lawsuit. These cases often involve significant medical costs, time away from work, and long-term physical and emotional harm.

Compensation can include reimbursement for medical bills, such as emergency care, hospital stays, skin grafts, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. Victims may also recover lost wages if they were unable to work during recovery, as well as compensation for reduced earning capacity in cases involving long-term disability or permanent scarring.

In addition to financial losses, the law allows recovery for pain and suffering, which accounts for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life that often follow a burn. 

In some cases, the court may award punitive damages if the injury was caused by a defective product or dangerous design that the manufacturer failed to correct or warn about. These damages are intended to punish reckless behavior and prevent similar harm to others.

Families may also be compensated for out-of-pocket expenses related to transportation, in-home care, or other needs stemming from the injury. A successful claim can help victims secure the financial recovery they need to move forward.

How Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers Can Help

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represents individuals and families who have been seriously injured by unsafe consumer products, including instant soup cups that have caused severe burns. Our firm has extensive experience handling product liability cases and mass torts involving defective packaging, inadequate warnings, and dangerous designs that lead to injuries. 

If you or your child has been burned by a soup cup that tipped, we’re here to help you hold manufacturers and other responsible parties accountable.

We manage every part of the legal process, from gathering evidence and identifying liable parties to working with medical experts to document the full extent of your burn injury, including permanent scarring, emotional trauma, and long-term care needs. Our team also calculates total losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. 

In cases involving reckless behavior or repeated harm, we pursue punitive damages to send a clear message to negligent companies. If your case is part of a broader pattern of harm, we may explore whether it qualifies for inclusion in a mass tort, allowing your voice to be heard alongside others who have been similarly injured.

FAQs

Who can file an instant soup burn lawsuit?

Anyone who has been burned by an instant noodle soup cup may be eligible to file a claim. Parents or legal guardians can take legal action on behalf of a minor who has been burned by instant noodle soup. A Chicago child injury lawyercan help guide you through the legal process.

How long do victims have to take legal action in Illinois?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury cases must be filed within two years of the injury. However, if the victim is a child, 735 ILCS 5/13-211 gives them until two years after their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit.

How much will an attorney cost?

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing up front, and we only collect a fee if we win your case. If there’s no recovery, there’s no fee.

Book a Free Case Review

Burn injuries from instant soup cups can be life-altering, and no one should have to face the consequences alone. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we’ve stood with many families after similar injuries, and we’re here to stand with you, too.

We offer a free consultation to review your case, explain your rights, and discuss the next steps in filing an instant soup burn lawsuit. Our team believes in your case and the importance of holding manufacturers accountable for unsafe products.

There’s no fee unless we’re able to recover compensation. Contact a trusted Chicago personal injury attorney today and let us help you pursue the financial recovery your family deserves.