Columbia Bar Liability Attorney
Any establishment that sells alcohol has a legal responsibility to ensure they are not serving patrons who are already overly intoxicated. In the event that an intoxicated person causes an injury, statutes known as “dram shop” laws are statewide measures that assign civil liability to any establishment that serves previously intoxicated customers. South Carolina does not have a clearly defined dram shop act, but they do recognize dram shop claims based on past decisions handed down by the Supreme Court. Namely, a case known as Hartfield v. The Getaway Lounge & Grill, Inc. determined that bar owners can be held liable for injuries that a patron causes if that bar served them knowing they were already intoxicated.
Countless people have suffered injuries because of bars’ irresponsibility in serving customers that are knowingly intoxicated. An intoxicated person can shoulder life-altering, undue burdens onto victims of their reckless behavior. Most often, this leads to drunken driving accidents that are a plague on public safety. If you were the victim of an injury caused by an intoxicated person, you deserve to recover the full amount of compensation available to you. At the Goings Law Firm, LLC, our skilled Columbia bar liability attorneys can investigate whether a bar’s continued service to a drunk patron contributed to your injuries. Being injured because of someone else’s reckless intoxication is infuriating, and you should know that it is possible to hold the person who hurt you accountable for their destructive behavior.
Dram Shop Liability in Bars
Dram shop statutes allow victims of intoxicated drivers to seek additional damages for their recovery. As most drunk driving injuries result in expensive medical bills, lost time at work, and rehabilitative care, this restitution is invaluable. Although South Carolina lacks a specific dram shop statute, past Supreme Court decisions have set a precedent that can assign a bar liability in circumstances such as:
- Intentionally serving a minor, or person under the age of 21
- Serving knowingly intoxicated persons (the person does not have to be visibly intoxicated)
- Being negligent by not requesting proof of age, serving someone past closing time, or serving someone an alcohol amount that they are likely to become intoxicated from
These cases are always civil, meaning that the bar cannot be found criminally responsible for injuries or wrongful death. Surveillance footage, a record of the number of drinks consumed, and eyewitness testimonies are great pieces of evidence that can lend credence to a claim that a bar was negligent in serving an intoxicated person. Furthermore, obtaining a knowledgeable bar liability attorney can help prove your case.
Contact a Bar Liability Attorney in Columbia
Suffering losses from an drunk driver is an especially painful experience. It may seem difficult to think about anything besides healing right now, but you do not have to face the legal process alone. The compassionate bar liability lawyers at Goings Law Firm, LLC can fight on your behalf to help you recover damages for your suffering. While we regret that you have had to face such a devastating experience, we can at least advocate for your interests so that you can recover without financial strain. Don’t hesitate to contact our Columbia offices today at (803) 350-9230 for support and guidance in your case.
