Energy Drink Injury Lawyers Reviewing Lawsuits for Heart Attacks, Sudden Death

Harvey Kirk

By Harvey Kirk
Posted October 16, 2014

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As evidence continues to emerge about the serious and potentially life threatening side effects of energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, 5-Hour Energy and other popular products, the injury lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. continue to review whether financial compensation may be available for individuals who suffered a heart problems or died following consumption of energy drinks.

8170825503_efc5a09ab2_mA study published this month in the medical journal Frontiers in Public Health describes the side effects of energy drinks and the aggressive marketing of the highly caffeinated products toward children and young adults, as a “significant public health problem”.

Reports have suggested that energy drink injuries send more than 20,000 people to emergency rooms throughout the country each year.

In addition, a growing number of studies have found that the products can have an impact on the heart, increasing the risk of angina, irregular heartbeats and sudden death.

Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. is reviewing potential energy drink injury lawsuits on behalf of individuals throughout the United States who have suffered any of the following injuries shortly after consuming large quantities of Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, 5-Hour Energy or other highly caffeinated energy drinks:

  • Heart Attack
  • Cardiac Arrest
  • Stroke
  • Kidney Failure
  • Sudden Death
  • Caffeine Overdose

Energy Drink Injury Risks

Earlier this year, in response to the mounting number of reports involving energy drink heart problems, the FDA launched a new adverse event reporting system designed to make it easier to track and monitor injuries associated with energy drinks, which are often sold as dietary supplements to avoid normal FDA regulations on beverages.

The energy drink industry has come under scrutiny in recent years for its aggressive advertising, which often promotes overconsumption of the drinks, and appears targeted at teens and young adults.

While beverage lobbyists often attempt to compare the drinks with coffeehouse coffees that can cost $5 a cup, most energy drinks are actually sold alongside sodas. They are comparable in price and almost identically packaged, yet they can be loaded with more than 10 times the amount of caffeine found in a regular soda.

A number of studies in recent years have raised questions about the safety of energy drinks, and the side effects of caffeine when consumed in large quantities or in combination with alcohol.

In August 2014, French researchers presented study findings at the European Society of Cardiology congress warning that energy drink injury risks may include angina, irregular heartbeats and sudden death. The researchers said many of the cases appeared linked to caffeine syndrome, which occurs with caffeine overdoses.

Another study presented at an American Heart Association conference in March 2013 found that energy drinks could interfere with the electrical operation of the heart, causing heart rhythm problems. The researchers found that an important measure of heart electrical activity known as the QT interval was prolonged in people who had recently consumed energy drinks, which could lead to a fatal heart condition known as torsades de pointes.

The threats to health do not appear to be only on paper and in clinical studies, however, but also appear to be having a real world effect on energy drink consumers.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported in early 2013 that throughout 2012 its centers nationwide received at least 3,147 calls regarding problems with energy drinks. Those calls included 1,869 incidents involving children.

Energy Drink Lawsuits

As a result of the actions taken by energy drink manufacturers, financial compensation may be available through a Red Bull lawsuit, Monster Energy lawsuit, Rockstar lawsuit or 5-Hour Energy Drink lawsuit for individuals who have suffered heart problems or sudden death that may have been caused by caffeine overdose, especially among younger users of the products.

It appears that the manufacturers placed their desire for profits before consumer safety by recklessly marketing the products in a way that encouraged consumption at dangerous levels, without providing adequate warnings about the energy drink injury risk or even information about the amount of caffeine contained in each can.

Request a free consultation and claim evaluation if you or a loved one may have suffered a heart attack or other injury from an energy drink. All lawsuits are being investigated under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are no out-of-pocket costs to hire our lawyers and we receive no attorney fees or expense reimbursement unless we are successful obtaining a recovery in the case.

CONTACT OUR ENERGY DRINK LAWYERS ABOUT AN INJURY LAWSUIT

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