Dram Shop Liability Lawyer in Chambersburg

If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver who should not have been served by a drinking establishment, you may have legal recourse. Under specific circumstances, dram shop liability laws allow those harmed by drunk drivers to hold the businesses that served them responsible.

Discuss your claim with our experienced Chambersburg dram shop liability lawyers at DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C. today.

Holding the Driver Responsible

It is illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol, and everyone with driving privileges is well aware of this fact. If you were injured by a drunk driver, they are responsible for their actions. While you can hold them legally liable for the damages you suffered, you could potentially do the same to the business that served them alcohol. This can prove beneficial if the driver’s coverage limits are too low to address your full range of losses.

Holding the Establishment Responsible 

A dram shop is a term for a business that serves alcohol, including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and beyond. Such an establishment can be held legally responsible if they serve alcohol to a patron who is visibly impaired or under the legal drinking age.

For dram shop liability to apply, there must have been clear signs that made the person’s intoxication apparent. Common examples include all the following:

• The patron could not speak coherently or slurred their words
• The patron had glassy, bloodshot eyes
• The patron had difficulty focusing their vision
• The patron could not coordinate their movements normally, such as when paying the bill
• The patron stumbled or fell over when they tried to stand or walk
• The patron’s reaction times were visibly slowed
• The patron exhibited a noticeable change in behavior

If it was quite clear that the individual in question was impaired and the business served them anyway, dram shop liability may apply.

The Number of Drinks Served Is Not the Issue

When it comes to establishing dram shop liability, the essential element is demonstrating that the patron was served an alcoholic drink when they were visibly impaired. It’s important to note here that the number of drinks served is not the primary issue. This number may, however, be very relevant to the case at hand. If, for example, the patron in question drank many stiff drinks, this fact can serve as evidence for strengthening the claim that they were visibly impaired.

Don’t Wait to Consult with Our Experienced Chambersburg Dram Shop Liability Attorneys

Our Chambersburg dram shop liability lawyers at DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C. have an impressive track record for successfully guiding our valued clients through the legal intricacies of difficult dram shop liability claims, and we’ll do what we can do to help, please don’t delay reaching out by contacting us online or giving our firm a call at 717-496-0070 today.