It is well-known that victims of drunk driving accidents can seek damages from the intoxicated driver. However, in some circumstances, the drunk driver may not be the only party held liable for the accident.
Generally speaking, a dram shop law is a civil liability statute that holds businesses and commercial establishments (bars, restaurants, taverns, liquor stores, etc.) responsible for serving or selling alcoholic beverages in a negligent manner. If the intoxicated patron then goes on to cause harm to another person, the alcohol vendor may be held liable.
The Advocates dram shop attorneys are here for you. We will help you understand your legal options, build your personal injury case, and negotiate a settlement.
Immediately after your accident, check for injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Seek medical treatment as soon as you can
Get any property damage assessed and fixed
Once you have completed treatment, your attorney will compile your medical records
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
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 don’t 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.
Not every accident requires an attorney. However, 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 build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.
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. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.
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 few years. It’s 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.
For more than 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.
We can help you:
I was in an accident 3 years ago and had a very bad experience with the attorney back then I was in another accident last year and called the advocates mark and his team were amazing changed my view on accident attorneys they kept I'm touch with me every step of the way gave me authority on choices for myself I didn't have to go with what they said I could go against it and they still would have worked with me the same I had choices this time around I would always go with Mark I have even sent friends his way just cause I appreciate all the help and support the whole way threw.
My experience with the advocates was a good one. After being hit by a car on my motorcycle they helped me with a settlement with the insurance company to get the hospital bills paid. They were extremely helpful. They always answered any questions I had with in a day. Every email I sent was always responded to. If you unfortunately has to go through a injury by another person I would recommend them in helping you resolve any debt you have because if that injury. The Advocates were great to work with and help me get this unfortunate event behind me.
Steve and his crew at The Advocates were nothing short for amazing. They took my case after I was rear-ended resulting in neck surgery. Steve and company made sure all of the was taken care of and that I got the maximum compensation possible. I definitely recommend The Advocates
Mr. Brad Johnson, our lawyer; was Awesome! He was very informative, kept us up to date on my case with regular calls. He returned calls back to us within 24 hours or less. Brad Johnson is very courteous, honest, kind, and a pleasure to talk to and work with. There are very few Lawyers out there that could even come close to the high morals that Brad Johnson has and has shown towards us. We need more lawyers like Brad Johnson . If we ever needed a disability lawyer again in the future; it would be Brad Johnson and The Advocates Firm that he works at. We will definitely turn ALL of our family and friends towards this lawyer and firm; in a heartbeat!!!
I want to First say that I am truly thankful for the advocates Law Firm they have been a great service to me through this ordeal and Katie she is a tremendous lawyer someone that I would recommend she fights tooth and nail for her clients and the rest of the team they supported me to the fullest with that being said I would like to say for anyone who is trying to find an attorney to fight their case The Advocates is the way to go.
In a dram shop case, the accident victim must prove that the alcohol vendor was serving alcohol in a negligent manner. This may include selling alcoholic drinks to the following people:
If a dram shop over-serves an individual, or serves alcohol to an individual who should not be served at all, and then that individual goes on to cause an accident, the dram shop may be held liable.
Intoxicated people may cause injury to others (third persons) in a variety of ways. Some of these include:
Dram shop liability is not necessarily limited to these three kinds of accidents. A personal injury attorney can help you determine who is liable for your injuries.
Some states do not reserve dram shop laws for commercial venues only. In some cases, a homeowner or private party host may be held liable for serving alcohol negligently in their own home.
In many cases, social host liability laws focus on the furnishing or serving of alcohol to minors. If a minor is served alcohol by a social host, then gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and causes an accident, state law may hold the social host partially liable for the accident.
Some states have only third-party dram shop laws, while others have first-party and third-party laws.
Third-party laws cover accident victims who were injured by an intoxicated person. First-party laws cover the injuries sustained by the intoxicated person.
For example, suppose an obviously intoxicated person is over-served by a bar and is then injured in an accident caused by their drunkenness. In a state with first-party laws, the bar may be held liable for their injuries. Typically, first-party claims are more difficult to prove than third-party claims.
Every personal injury case is different–the types of damages you may be entitled to will depend on the exact circumstances surrounding your case. Some commonly sought damages in dram shop claims include:
An accident lawyer will be able to help you understand what kind of damages you may seek in your personal injury claim.
The only states without dram shop laws of any kind are:
Dram shop claims can be very difficult to prove–it can be hard to demonstrate that a bartender should have reasonably been able to tell that an individual was overly intoxicated. Additionally, the dram shop’s insurance company will likely do whatever they can to avoid offering you a fair settlement.
A personal injury lawyer with The Advocates will help. We will assist you in compiling evidence, building your case, and negotiating a settlement. With an Advocate on your side, all you need to do is focus on feeling better.
Our legal team will be by your side every step of the way–we are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have. We will keep you updated on the status of your case and provide any assistance you need throughout the entirety of your case.
Contact The Advocates today for a free case evaluation. You deserve an attorney who will fight to protect your best interests. You deserve an Advocate.
