Establishments in West Palm Beach have a legal responsibility to not serve patrons who are underage, have a history of habitual over-drinking, or who may already be dangerously intoxicated. If a bartender, manager, or establishment owner ignores this responsibility, they may be liable for the damages caused if a patron causes injuries or deaths in a related drunk driving accident.
If you or a close family member has been affected by a drunk driving accident, our experienced car accident lawyers in West Palm Beach will fight for your right to compensation. For more than 20 years, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has fought to hold all liable parties in drunk driving accidents accountable. Our intimate knowledge of dram shop laws and tort laws in Florida allows us to vigorously pursue cases where a business could be partially or wholly liable for a related drunk driving accident.
Call us today to learn more about your legal options for obtaining compensation under Florida’s dram shop laws during a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. Schedule your free case evaluation now when you call 800-560-5059 or contact us online.
What Are Dram Shop Laws?
The term “dram shop laws” refers collectively to laws put in place that discourage irresponsibly serving patrons. These laws also hold establishments liable for damages that can result, such as if the customer gets into a car accident while driving drunk, causing injuries or fatalities.
“Dram” is an outdated word for a single drink or shot of alcohol. Contextually, this term specifies that dram shop laws refer to establishments that serve drinks for on-premises consumption, such as bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and anywhere else that sells alcohol by the drink.
Dram shop laws vary from state to state. Florida’s dram shop law (Florida Statute §768.125) can hold individuals or businesses responsible if they “willfully and unlawfully” provide alcohol to an underage minor or if they “knowingly” provide alcohol to someone who is “habitually addicted” to alcohol. Unlike other states, Florida’s dram shop laws make no specific mention of willfully serving patrons who are already visibly intoxicated.
How Could Dram Shop Laws Relate to a West Palm Beach Drunk Driving Accident?
When a drunk driver causes an accident, there can be serious injuries or deaths that result. These adverse events can lead to substantial bills for treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and other costs. Injury victims may also lose income while they miss work to recover. These and other financial losses are referred to as “damages,” and they also include repair bills and other costs associated with physical property damage.
Dram shop laws can make certain establishments partially liable for these damages if West Palm Beach car accident lawyers are able to draw a conclusive link between the establishment’s choice to serve the customer and the related injury damages.
Your attorney must prove that the establishment knew the customer was underage or “habitually addicted,” and if they can, then you are eligible to claim the portion of the total damages their irresponsibility caused.
Pursuing these businesses is important not just to hold them responsible for their actions but also to provide enough money to pay for all of the victim’s medical bills and other costs. Many drivers in Florida carry no bodily injury liability insurance since it is not mandatory under our state’s laws. Drunk driving accident victims may, therefore, have to rely on claims against other parties in order to repay the costs of their injuries or compensate them for the death of a close family member.
How Our Car Accident Lawyers in West Palm Beach Can Help You in Drunk Driving Accidents
Dram shop laws can be complicated to apply, especially when only a minimal amount of facts are known about what was served to the customer and when. Steinger, Greene & Feiner have experience applying these laws and researching past case rulings associated with them. We can give your case a fighting chance at successfully obtaining you the compensation you deserve from irresponsible establishments.
You shouldn’t have to pay for the costs of an injury caused by a drunk driver. Let our West Palm Beach car accident attorneys work hard to help you pursue a strong claim against all liable parties.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today to learn more about your legal rights and options when you call 800-560-5059 or contact us online.