When we start our day, we figure it will go just like most other days. Hopefully, it is uneventful, at least when it comes to anything bad. Unfortunately, sometimes something happens that can turn our lives over completely.
Finding out that a loved one has been injured or killed is something none of us expect. When we get the news, so many things run through our head. Most of all, we want to know how it happened. Finding out that our loved ones have been hurt or killed due to someone being intoxicated can be difficult. Sometimes we learn that they were served alcohol even though they were visibly impaired. If this is the case, you may need a dram shop or liquor liability attorney. At the Dan Doyle Law Group, we want to work with you through what can be a difficult situation.
When an accident occurs due to someone being intoxicated, the person who is impaired is certainly at fault. Often, that person has been drinking at their home and gets behind the wheel. Other times, someone is at bar or restaurant and is served alcohol even though they are visibly intoxicated. That is a problem, and the person who serves them may have broken the law.
Did you know that, under Pennsylvania law, anyone who serves someone who is visibly impaired can be held liable for damages or injuries caused by the person they served?
There are a few things that must be proved for a case like this to move forward. First, since bartenders or other employees have no way to know the blood alcohol level of their patrons, they have to rely on other signs of intoxication. These signs include slurred speech, trouble walking, or bloodshot eyes. It also needs to be proved that the decision to serve alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person directly led to damages or injuries.
While all of this can be difficult to prove, it can and should be done if their actions contributed to the injury or death of a loved one. While much of the responsibility for this is on the person who was intoxicated, there are reasons that “dram shop” laws exist. By continuing to serve people after they are already intoxicated, the potential for serious harm is significantly increased. It is negligent.
If you have been hurt, or a loved one has been killed, by someone impaired by alcohol, you may need a West Chester dram shop or liquor liability attorney. If someone else’s negligence contributed to the injury or death of a loved one, you have the right to know how and why it happened. Serving alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated IS negligent and can contribute to severe injuries. The Dan Doyle Law Group will work with you through this difficult situation so you can get the answers you need.
You can contact us by clicking here or calling 215-987-3730 for a free consultation.
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