Dram Shop and Social Host Liability Attorneys Monmouth County, NJ
Serving Clients across Red Bank, Freehold, Middletown, Wall, Howell, Jackson, West Long Branch, and Monmouth County
When a drunk driver injures another driver or even a pedestrian, that injured party may be able to hold that drunk driver liable for damages like medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and physical and emotional pain and suffering through a personal injury claim.
However, what many people may not know is that in New Jersey, persons injured by drunk drivers and even drunk individuals may also be able to hold the bar, restaurant, hotel, casino, or even the social host which served the intoxicated individual alcohol through what is known as the “Dram Shop Law”. This is particularly important considering the fact that many times the drunk driver’s insurance policy and individual assets may not be enough to cover the damages incurred, while establishments like bars, restaurants, hotels, and casinos will have much better coverage, coverage which can help you and your family recover from the injuries you suffered due to their reckless service of alcohol to the drunk driver or drunk individual who caused your injuries.
At Chamlin, Uliano & Withering, our attorneys have extensive experience recovering full and fair compensation for injured clients through personal injury claims and dram shop claims in towns across New Jersey and Monmouth County including Red Bank, Freehold, Middletown, Wall, Howell, Jackson, and West Long Branch.
If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered a wrongful death at the hands of a drunk driver or drunk individual, call our office to discuss your options for recovering compensation for your damages in a free and confidential consultation with our attorney team today.
Do I Have a Monmouth County Dram Shop Claim?
According to section 2A:22A-4 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes, a dram shop claim can be filed against an establishment which served alcohol to a person who then went on to cause those injuries if:
- The intoxicated individual was already “visibly intoxicated” when they were served by the establishment in question
- The establishment knew or reasonably should have known, that the person they were serving was under the age of 21 (NJ’s legal drinking age)
Additionally, it is important to note that the Dram Shop Law does not allow the same individual who was negligent served alcohol to also file a claim if they too were injured in whatever accident subsequently occurred.
Of course, proving that a bar, restaurant, hotel, casino, etc knew that the person was drunk when they served them will require investigation, and gathering and presenting whatever evidence is found to a court of law. This makes it that much more important than anyone pursuing a dram shop claim seeking compensation for their injuries and damages work with an experienced personal injury attorney, one who is familiar with NJ’s dram shop laws, and understands exactly how to gather and present the evidence necessary to make a successful dram shop injury recovery.
Social Host Liability Lawyers Red Bank, NJ
Similar to Dram Shop claims, a social host liability claim is designed to allow individuals injured by the actions of another intoxicated person to recover compensation for the damages they have suffered. However, where a dram shop claim will hold establishments like bars, hotels, restaurants, and casinos liable, social host liability laws instead hold, as the name suggests, social hosts liable.
If a person was injured by the actions of another drunk individual, and that individual was served alcohol at any kind of party or privately held event, the injured individual may find success through a social host liability claim if:
- The person who caused the injuries was visibly drunk in the presence of the host
- The alcoholic beverages were served “under circumstances manifesting reckless disregard of the consequences”
- Those same circumstances created an “unreasonable risk” of harm to life or property
- The injuries were caused by the intoxicated individual, served by the social host, in some kind of motor vehicle accident
As with any dram shop claim, the chances of you proving any of these above factors, and ensuring a successful recovery is made goes up astronomically with the help of an experienced Red Bank social host liability claims attorney. Not only will you have to prove that your injuries were caused by the drunk individual in question, you will have to prove that the social host acted recklessly by knowingly continuing to serve that person alcohol, even after they were visibly intoxicated.
Contact Our West Long Branch Dram Shop and Social Host Liability Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver or a drunk individual, it is important that you recover the compensation you need and deserve in order to begin rebuilding your lives. Whether this is through a third-party claim against that drunk driver and their insurance company, a dram shop claim against the bar which recklessly or negligently served the person alcohol, a social host liability claim against a private social host, or some combination of the three is something you should, and will, discuss with our attorneys when you schedule your free and confidential consultation.
With over 50 years of experience representing clients injured in all manner of accidents in towns across New Jersey and Monmouth County, including Red Bank, Freehold, Middletown, Wall, Jackson, and West Long Branch, our firm has carefully developed our reputation for success, attentive and compassionate service, and a deep understanding of personal injury law among insurance companies, business, and the community alike.
To speak with our legal team today in a free and confidential consultation regarding your injuries resulting from the actions of a drunk driver or drunk individual, and your options for making a recovery through a personal injury claim, dram shop claim, or a social host liability claim, please contact us online, or through our West Long Branch, NJ office at (732) 440-3950.