New Brunswick Personal Injury Lawyer: What Are Your Rights if You Are Injured in a Bar?
It’s an unfortunate reality that, when people consume alcohol, people often get hurt. Are there circumstances where, as a bar patron, you suffer injury that will allow you to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for injury and loss. Legal experts conclude that there are—here are some concrete examples.
Under what are commonly known as dram shop laws, the owner of an establishment that serves beer, wine and/or liquor may have liability for any injuries caused by someone who:
- Was observably intoxicated or drunk when served additional alcohol
- Was served a quantity of alcohol that would reasonably be expected to make him or her intoxicated
In a situation where either of these instances occurred, the owner/operator of the restaurant, bar, tavern or other facility will likely face liability for any ensuing injuries. Though typically associated with injuries caused by drunk drivers, dram shop liability can also be applied to situations occurring entirely within the bar, such as:
- Injuries sustained when an inebriated customer starts or engages in a bar fight
- Injuries suffered when a drunken customer knocks someone over on the dance floor or causes anything to fall on an innocent patron
In extreme cases, it is even possible to file a claim against a bar for injuries you received because the bar served you too much alcohol. However, these cases typically require that you show more than mere negligence by the person serving you—the legal standard is usually described as “willful, wanton and reckless.” Generally, this requires a clear understanding that you were intoxicated and an intentional disregard of the consequences of serving you more alcohol.
Contact New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr
At the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr, we have fought for the rights of injured people in central New Jersey for more than four decades. We carefully choose the cases we handle, so that we can provide the highest levels of service and personal attention to each client. We are also happy to take over your case, if your first lawyer does not seem to have your best interests in mind.
To set us a free initial consultation, send us an e-mail or call our office at 732-537-8570 (toll free at
1-877-249-4600).
