Bars and restaurants can be a fun place to relax and enjoy a drink or two with friends and family. Unfortunately, these outings can get out of hand very quickly if the establishment does not step in when necessary. Restaurants that sell alcohol are responsible for not over-serving their guests and can be held liable if one of their drunk patrons later gets into a car accident.
In South Carolina, there are currently no specific dram shop laws outlined in the state code. However, drunk driving accidents are still taken very seriously, so if an individual is injured by a drunk driver, they can file a civil claim against the bar for its recklessness.
Furthermore, state lawmakers have also recently begun addressing this dangerous issue. In June of 2017, officials amended South Carolina’s liquor licensing laws to require that bars and restaurants which sell alcohol after 5 PM must have an insurance policy with at least $1 million in coverage. This requirement allows for higher potential compensation for the victims of drunk driving car wrecks. Bars are more likely able to be able to cover all damages associated with dram shop cases as opposed to the drunk driver, who may not have a large enough insurance policy.
Providing Evidence in a Dram Shop Case
In dram shop cases, attorneys must prove that the bar or restaurant behaved recklessly by acting in a way that could result in great risk to other people. Usually, this is done by providing evidence that the bar or restaurant served a customer who was already intoxicated. In practice, when an establishment stops serving alcohol to a drunk patron, they are trying to protect not just other patrons and drivers but also themselves from being held liable if that customer gets into an accident.
Proving a bar recklessly overserved someone may be difficult to accomplish without a skilled attorney at your side. It could be important to contact a personal injury lawyer to help you through your dram shop case so that you may effectively pursue appropriate compensation for your injuries.
Get Help from a Personal Injury Attorney
Being involved in a car accident with a drunk driver can be both physically and mentally draining. The attorneys at Christmas Law are here to help you through the legal process so you do not have to go through it alone. One of our experienced and compassionate lawyers may be able to help you seek the justice you deserve, so contact us today for a consultation on your dram shop case.
