Dram Shop and Liquor Liability
Drinking is America’s favorite past time. Every year, Americans spend around $276 billion on drinking, smoking, and taking drugs. Between Millennials and Baby Boomers, alcohol is the top purchase. Even though Baby Boomers buy wine in greater volume, Millennials are large on buying beer and spirits. It was suggested that if you are a social drinker and you drink three drinks a day, five days a week, at $10 a drink then you will spend nearly $7,800 a year on alcohol. If you only drink on the weekends, you are more likely to spend around $2,500 a year. This is a lot of money. For that amount, you can buy a car or go on an international vacation. If Americans are collectively spending billions on getting impaired, how are Americans acting while impaired?
Drunk driving is never a good idea. Tipsy driving is never a good idea. One death due to drunk driving is one too many. Here are some recent statistics of drunk driving incidents in Pennsylvania. Even though fatalities are decreasing since 2016, the number of accidents have increased.
The daily statistics are particularly staggering. Every day someone is affected by someone’s irresponsible decision to get behind the wheel while drunk. To combat the responsibility on falling solely onto the driver, Pennsylvania has legislation that opens the breadth of responsibility to the bars that served the already drunk patrons.
In the Dram Shop Liquor Liability Law, persons and families can sue bars and restaurants for their part in someone driving under the influence. This law came into headlines when the Jackass star Ryan Dunn and his friend Zachary Hartwell were killed due to drunk driving. Hartwell’s family is suing Dunn’s estate and Barnaby’s bar for serving an already visibly drunk Dunn more alcohol. The two men then got into Dunn’s Porsche. Dunn careened off the road, crashed through the guard rail, hit a tree, and then burst into flames. Both men died instantly. Since there were pictures of Dunn and Hartwell at Barnaby’s hours before the accident it is assumed that the bar had the responsibility to stop serving Dunn, but they didn’t.
If you or a loved one was injured in a drunk driving accident then you have options. Pennsylvania takes driving under the influence seriously. Our dram shop and liquor liability attorney at Dan Doyle Law Group in Philadelphia will be sure to take action against anyone who contributed to your injury. Call 215-987-3730 or click here for a free consultation today.
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