Restaurants, bars, stadiums, and any other public venue that sells alcohol has a responsibility to make sure that no customers are over-served. It is crucial that bartenders and the employees at the restaurant or bar are aware of their legal responsibility to deny selling additional alcohol to any already visibly intoxicated patron. These are known as the dram shop laws.
If an individual is injured as a result of an intoxicated person, the injured person may be able to also bring a lawsuit against the establishment that the intoxicated person came from. The burden of proof in this situation is on the injured person. They must be able to prove that the bar, restaurant, or another establishment that served the intoxicated person unlawfully. An unlawful sale of alcohol includes selling alcohol to a person under the age of 21 years old or to a person who was clearly very intoxicated.
The bartender should not serve a person if they show signs of intoxication such as slurring, incoordination, slow reactions, loudness, etc. However, it is important to note that not all people who are very intoxicated show visible signs of being intoxicated.
If you have been injured by an intoxicated person, it is important to be aware of the Dram Shop laws and how they may impact your case. In addition, it is also essential to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Contact The Law Office of Raji S. Zeidan, PC today to schedule a consultation if you are in need of strong legal representation for any of your criminal defense and personal injury matters.