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Des Moines Dram Shop Law

The Advocates are here to help if a drunk driver in Iowa has injured you.

A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You 

Facing injury or wrongful death due to the negligence of someone else is difficult. Whether you’ve been injured in a car crash because of a drunk driver or from either clumsiness or violence by a heavily intoxicated person, you may have further recourse than just seeking damages from the drunken individual.

Navigating Iowa’s dram shop laws is no small task. After an alcohol-related accident, an experienced attorney can help you with the legal process.

Contact our Des Moines, IA, law firm today for a free consultation. You are not alone with an Advocate on your side.

The Next Steps in Your Des Moines Accident Case

Injury

Immediately after the crash, assess your injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as you can

Medical Records

Keep track of any and all treatment you receive during recovery

Finish Treatment

Once you’ve completed treatment, your case can move forward

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.  

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.  

Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We do not get paid unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.  

For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.

If the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.  

Your attorney will gather evidence, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary.

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime.

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.  

In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a several years. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.  

In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.

A Team of DUI Injury Professionals Assigned to Your Case   

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive fair compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.     

We can help you:  

  • Understand the claims process  
  • Investigate your accident  
  • Work together with you towards a full resolution of your injuries  
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters 
  • Obtain a settlement or judgment against the at-fault party

Talking to a Professional

Talk to a professional

Iowa Dram Shop Laws and Social Host Liability

Young bartender standing at bar counter with customer laughing joyfully

Dram Shop Laws

The most common way of getting injured by an intoxicated person is through drunk driving accidents. Unfortunately, sometimes the drunk driver doesn’t have insurance that can be pursued for punitive damages, and they don’t have any assets that can be used for compensation.

In 42/50 states in the US, the victim can seek compensation from the place that provided the alcohol if it can be shown that the provider was irresponsible in serving alcoholic beverages. The typical way of irresponsible serving is overserving alcohol when there are clear signs of intoxication that could be dangerous to both the patron and potentially the public.

The state of Iowa requires establishments to have insurance covering a dram shop claim to receive a liquor license.

Social Host Liability

Iowa doesn’t have social host liability laws. There are laws in place that prohibit providing alcohol to underage drinkers, but those are offenses that carry fines.

Laughing friends having dinner

Iowa OWI Statistics and Information

Iowa OWI Statistics  

  • On average, 37% of traffic fatalities involved impaired drivers with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or greater.
  • In December 2022, nearly 1100 drivers were charged with OWIs, roughly 75% of which were first offenses.
  • The state of Iowa performs around 14,000 license revocations every year. 
  • Men are much more likely to drive while drunk.

National DUI Statistics   

  • Roughly 34 people die every day from drunk driving crashes. 
  • 12,429 people died in the US in 2023 from drunk driving car accidents.
  • 43% of motorcyclists killed in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol-impaired.

Why Should I Hire a Des Moines Injury Attorney?

Dram shop liability is difficult to navigate. Due to an establishment’s overserving, you may now face lost wages, medical expenses, or general pain and suffering. 

The accident attorneys with The Advocates can help you. We understand how difficult dram shop cases can be, and you shouldn’t have to tackle them by yourself. We tirelessly ensure you feel understood and seen through the legal process.

Contact our Des Moines personal injury lawyers today for a free case evaluation. You deserve legal representation that understands you. You deserve an Advocate.

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