At the Dan Doyle Law Group, we understand that the loss of a loved one is never an easy thing to deal with. It can be shocking, especially if it happened in an accident. If you find out that your loved one was killed in an accident due to someone who was intoxicated by alcohol, you may be angry. You may also have questions.

If you need a dram shop or liquor liability lawyer, we want to help you. Our experienced and knowledgeable attorneys will sit with you and go over all of your options.

Getting Closure

When a loved one dies unexpectedly, you have to take care of many things at once. Funeral services and burial are only the beginning of this painful process. When things begin to settle down, you may have questions about how your loved one died.

  • How intoxicated was the person who caused the accident?
  • Did that person have a history of DUI or disorderly conduct?
  • Where were they drinking before the accident occurred?

That last question is important. While sometimes people get drunk at home and then get behind the wheel, often, they are at a restaurant, bar, or other establishments before they start driving. Did you know that, under Pennsylvania law, anyone who serves someone who is visibly impaired can be held liable for damages or injuries caused by the person they served?

If a bartender or server continues to serve someone who is visibly intoxicated, they may have broken the law. While we recognize that servers have no way of knowing a person’s blood alcohol level, there are other signs of intoxication that can be used. Red or bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and difficulty walking can all indicated that a person has had too much to drink. Sometimes, a simple count of the drinks they’ve had is enough to know.

The person who is intoxicated and kills someone is negligent.

So is the person who served them if they continued to do so beyond what is reasonably acceptable.

There is a reason “dram shop” laws exist. They are meant to deter bartenders and servers from putting the public in danger by serving people beyond a reasonable amount. If they break these laws, they should be held accountable for the damages and injuries caused by the people they continued to serve. Their negligence contributed to the situation.

What To Do

If you have been hurt, or a loved one has been killed, by someone impaired by alcohol, you may need a Norristown dram shop or liquor lability attorney. You have the right to know how and why your loved one was hurt or killed if someone else’s negligence contributed. Serving alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated IS NEGLIGENT and endangers the public. The Dan Doyle Law Group will work with you through this difficult situation so you can get the answers you need.

You can contact us by clicking here or calling 215-987-3730 for a free consultation.