Injuries Caused by a Restaurant or Bar Overserving Alcohol in Massachusetts

Were you or a loved one injured by someone who was intoxicated? Whether the incident happened on the roads, on the sidewalk or anywhere else, it is imperative to act quickly following an incident with an intoxicated person. First and foremost, you should alert the police. The next step should be to contact a personal injury attorney from the Cambridge firm of Altman & Altman LLP.

“Dram Shop” Claims

It is no secret that over-indulging with alcohol can lead to disastrous consequences, both for the intoxicated person and for any number of innocent victims they come into contact with. You may already know that an intoxicated person can be held liable for injuries they cause, but did you also know that in Massachusetts, an establishment that serves an intoxicated person can also be found negligent and liable if that person goes on to cause an injury?

This is called a “dram shop” claim, which hearkens back to a time when servings of alcohol were called “drams.” While Massachusetts does not strictly permit individuals to file claims against alcohol serving establishments for any unspecified reason, the law allows individuals to file a claim against an establishment that serves a visibly intoxicated person as a liable third party.

Imagine a bar patron is visibly stumbling or slurring their words, yet a bartender continues to serve them. This patron then goes on to get into a fight with another patron, drunkenly trips into another patron or causes a car accident upon leaving. Any of these situations could lead to a dram shop claim pursued by a victim of the intoxicated person’s actions – which were exacerbated by the bar’s negligence in serving a visibly intoxicated person.

Social Host Liability

Another element to be aware of when it comes to personal injury claims related to alcohol is whether or not social host liability plays a factor. In Massachusetts, any property owner or establishment purveyor who serves alcohol to somebody under the age of 21 can be held liable for any injuries caused by that underaged person.

For example, imagine two adult parents allow their 17-year-old child to host a party with their friends, knowing that they will be consuming alcohol. The parents fail to prevent one of the intoxicated teenagers from driving home, and they get into a serious car accident that injured another driver. Not only could the parents who hosted the party be held liable in a personal injury claim brought forth by the injured motorist, they could also be held liable for the injuries sustained by the minor who was intoxicated, as they should have demonstrated more responsibility.

We can Help With all Alcohol-Related Injury Claims

At Altman & Altman LLP, we take all of our clients’ claims seriously. Alcohol-related injuries often have much more at stake for the victim and the person responsible for the injury, and so we will utilize all of our available resources to ensure that you get the best legal representation following such an incident.

Our expert personal injury attorneys have over 50 years of experience helping our clients in Boston, Cambridge and throughout Massachusetts navigate every type of personal injury claim imaginable, and we will take the time to work with you to learn the precise details of your case to craft a legal strategy that keeps in mind your specific goals. We understand that time is of the essence in these cases, and will waste no time getting to work.

A successful personal injury claim or agreed upon settlement can provide money that is necessary to pay for medical expenses incurred by your injury and provide relief from money lost while you were unable to work and collect a regular paycheck. Achieving success in this manner is only possible when you have an experienced personal injury attorney in your corner.

Contact us online or call for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.