How do dram shop laws affect auto accident liability claims?

On Behalf of | Aug 21, 2015 | Drunk Driving Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents |

In a perfect world, everyone would know their limitations when it comes
to consuming alcohol. But unfortunately, far too many people choose to
overindulge while at the bar or in the club prior to getting behind the
wheel of an automobile. Drunk drivers put everyone on the road, including
themselves and their passengers, in grave danger.

One problem is that alcohol clouds human judgment. This means that once
a person has imbibed too much, he or she may be incapable of making good
decisions. When a person is inebriated to the point of not thinking clearly,
it may be necessary for others to act responsibly on his or her behalf.

But what happens if someone is served alcohol in a public venue and then
later causes a car accident? Does the establishment that served the person
alcohol bear any liability for that accident? Well, according to what
are called “dram shop laws,” it is possible for a plaintiff to recover damages from a vendor
who sold alcohol to someone who went on to cause an accident.

So, if you are ever in a drunk driver-related accident and are seeking
compensation for injuries or other damages, you may wish to consider having
dram shop laws invoked against the drinking establishment who sold the
driver alcohol. But in order to do this, you will likely need to perform
an investigation to prove that the drinking establishment is indeed partially
responsible for the accident taking place.

A Texas motor vehicle accident attorney may be of service when it comes to discovering which parties
are culpable in a drunk driving accident. The attorney could investigate
the details of the case to help you uncover pertinent information that
may be used in building a liability case.