Alcohol Vendor Liability - Dram Shop Law

Arizona Accident Lawyers for Alcohol Vendor Liability

Over the past decade, Arizona and other states have worked hard to combat drunk driving. In addition to increasing penalties for drunk drivers themselves, the law has sought to crack down on those who enable drunk driving by giving people improper access to alcohol.

Dram shop laws, named after an 18^th-century term for establishments that illegally sold alcohol, hold establishments that improperly sell or serve alcohol responsible for the actions of their patrons. If a bar, restaurant, or retail store acts irresponsibly in providing alcohol and their customer subsequently causes an accident by drinking and driving, the establishment can be held responsible and victims can seek compensation from them.

If you have been injured by a drunk driver, contact Solomon and Relihan. We are Phoenix injury attorneys with more than 30 years experience helping accident victims in Maricopa County and throughout Arizona. We begin each case with a thorough examination of the facts and applicable law, and can determine if dram shop liability applies to your case.

Types of Alcohol Vendor Liability

Dram shop liability holds alcohol providers (including bars, restaurants, stores, social clubs, and organizers of private events) responsible for the dangerous actions of an intoxicated person when they have provided alcohol illegally. Common types of illegal alcohol sales and related wrongful conduct include:

• Selling, serving, or furnishing alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person
• Selling, serving, or furnishing alcohol after hours
• Selling, serving, or furnishing alcohol to a minor

If an establishment provides alcohol under any of those circumstances and their customer injures someone by drinking and driving, the establishment can be held responsible for the victim's injuries and be made to pay for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

The first type of violation -- selling to an obviously intoxicated person -- is the most common. Due to the vagueness of the phrase "obviously intoxicated", it relies on the judgment of the person selling the alcohol and is therefore more difficult to prove. The victim must prove that the seller knew, or should have known, that the customer was intoxicated. That is why having an experienced and trusted attorney is crucial in dram shop liability cases.

Contact Solomon & Relihan, Arizona Auto Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured by a drunk driver, you should talk with an experienced attorney. For a free initial consultation with a lawyer, contact our Phoenix law firm by e-mail or by telephone. For your convenience, home and hospital visits are available upon request.