How Often Do People Die from Caffeine?

It’s uncommon for people to die from caffeine, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. In fact, when caffeine-related deaths occur, it might be because of negligence, allowing survivors to seek compensation from at-fault parties.

When people die from too much caffeine, it is often because they consume too many supplements or excess powders and not too many cups of coffee. Supplement companies owe their customers a duty to accurately portray safe serving sizes and caffeine contents and explain the dangers of consuming too much of their product, especially in one sitting. Failure to do this could lead to caffeine toxicity and cardiac arrest, which may be fatal. If a caffeine-related death was due to negligence, the victim’s survivors may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This could compensate survivors for the many losses from a victim’s untimely and shocking death, both economic and non-economic. A lawsuit might also generate punitive damages for survivors, but only if a victim died from the defendant’s gross negligence.

For help with your case today, call (617) 925-6407 and speak to the Boston wrongful death lawyers of the Law Office of John J. Sheehan.

Do People Die from Caffeine Often?

Caffeine-related deaths are very rare but can happen under certain circumstances. Typically, if people do die from caffeine toxicity, it is because of extreme overconsumption or a distributor’s negligence, potentially making another party liable for the victim’s death.

Lethal caffeine doses do not come from your morning coffee. Often, caffeine-related deaths are due to the consumption of powders and supplements, as seen in the case of Thomas Mansfield, who mistakenly consumed the equivalent of 200 cups of coffee in one drink. Mansfield, of North Wales, showed signs of caffeine toxicity almost immediately after mixing his drink with the supplement powder, which he had previously purchased online.

The supplement powder had a recommended serving size but did not provide an additional instruction sheet or serving scoop to encourage customers to use only the recommended amounts.

Companies that fail to warn customers about the dangers of consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, like cardiac arrest and death, or do not provide safe serving-size suggestions for their products could be held liable for victims’ deaths and survivors’ damages. Companies that make these dietary supplements, powders, or tablets for caffeine owe a duty of care to consumers, and breaching that duty could make them financially responsible for the resulting damages. However, the manufacturer would not be liable if customers misuse caffeine powders or supplements solely through their own error. For example, in Mansfield’s case, an investigation found he died by his own “misadventure,” not necessarily the caffeine powder company’s negligence.

What Can Survivors Do After a Victim Dies from Caffeine?

Deaths from caffeine toxicity can be traumatic for victims’ loved ones, especially if they are present. For example, in Thomas Mansfield’s case, his wife immediately saw him grab his heart, foam at the mouth, and suffer cardiac arrest after consuming the drink he mixed at home using caffeine powder. In the wake of such a traumatic death, our lawyers can help you make sense of the situation, including the ultimate cause of death and if you can seek compensatory damages.

Confirm the Victim’s Cause of Death

The victim’s medical records should confirm their cause of death and if it was caffeine toxicity. Loved ones who suspect caffeine-related deaths can seek further testing to confirm that, which will be necessary as the victim’s medical records will be of vital interest in a wrongful death case. Furthermore, additional medical investigation may be necessary to prove caffeine toxicity caused a victim to suffer cardiac arrest and die, and not a pre-existing heart condition.

Prove Breach of Duty

Holding someone else liable for a caffeine-related death is often challenging. To do this, our wrongful death lawyers would have to show that another party owed the victim a duty of care and breached it, directly causing their death and damages. Take the example of a caffeine supplement killing a victim. If the supplement packaging did not expressly warn consumers about the serious dangers of overconsumption and provide clear serving instructions, it could be held liable for a victim’s death. Such companies could also be liable if their products contain more caffeine than advertised, causing deaths even when customers consume the suggested amount.

Compensation for Survivors of Victims Who Die from Caffeine

When caffeine product manufacturers and distributors, like supplement companies, are held liable for wrongful deaths, survivors may recover various damages, depending on which state they live in.

For example, in Massachusetts, survivors may recover compensation for loss of reasonably expected income due to the victim’s death, particularly if the victim was a large contributor to their family. Survivors can also typically seek compensation for any funeral and burial expenses, as well as any medical expenses incurred before the victim’s death. For example, if they were rushed to the hospital after showing signs of caffeine toxicity and received treatment before they died, a wrongful death lawsuit might cover those costs.

When they successfully hold negligent parties accountable, survivors may also receive compensation for loss of companionship, guidance, comfort, and other intangible damages.

Companies that show gross negligence, such as by providing inaccurate serving size or caffeine content information, might be made to pay punitive damages when lawsuits go to court. Juries often use punitive damages to punish defendants for their conduct and deter others from doing the same, which is why they are common in wrongful death lawsuits. Punitive damages are not available from wrongful death settlements from caffeine, so survivors must go to court to get these damages.

Call Our Lawyers for Help with Your Case

Call (617) 925-6407 to discuss your case for free with the Massachusetts wrongful death lawyers of the Law Office of John J. Sheehan.