Dram Shop: Over-Serving of Alcohol

Indianapolis Lawyers for Injuries and Accidents Involving Serving Too Much Alcohol

Businesses that serve alcohol such as bars, nightclubs, and restaurants have a legal responsibility to stop serving a customer before that person becomes intoxicated. Indiana is one of many states that have a Dram Shop Act. This statute provides a legal remedy for the public who may be put at an increased risk when a business puts profits ahead of its patrons and sells excessive amounts of alcohol to an individual.

Over-serving alcohol can create a dangerous situation not only for the person who had too much to drink but also for others they may encounter. Alcohol impairs a person’s physical and mental ability. When a person who has had too much to drink gets behind the wheel of a car, the consequences can be devastating. Approximately one third of traffic accident fatalities can be attributed to a drunk driver. While the majority of the people killed were either the drunk driver themselves or their passengers, a significant number of people including other drivers and pedestrians were also included in these statistics.

Besides the impact that alcohol can have on a person’s ability to drive a vehicle, alcohol can also magnify health issues or create a dangerous situation when combined with prescription or over-the-counter medications. Excessive drinking or binging can result in alcohol poisoning or death. One reason that binge drinking is so dangerous is because blood alcohol levels can continue to rise even after a person has stopped drinking. The alcohol in the stomach and intestines is passed into the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body and can slow a person’s heart rate and breathing to deadly levels.

Indiana requires that all employees or volunteers with a permit to serve alcohol attend a certified server training course within six months of employment. The certified training course teaches servers how to recognize false or altered identification, refuse service to an intoxicated patron, and provides working knowledge of Indiana alcohol laws. This certification program is intended to promote awareness and educate businesses and their employees regarding Indiana liquor laws.

When a business fails to recognize when a customer has had too much to drink or fails to stop serving alcohol to a person who is clearly intoxicated, the potential for serious injury is high.

Your Rights

If you or someone you care about has been injured by a drunk driver, you may have a case against not only the driver of the vehicle but also the alcohol provider. Serious personal injury can occur to a customer who has been served too much alcohol. Binge drinking can cause a person to become drunk so quickly that they may suffer from alcohol poisoning, which can be deadly. Our Indianapolis personal injury & car accident attorneys have experience helping people in cases that involve businesses that over-serve alcohol. Contact us, to learn of your legal rights and options. There is no charge for the initial consultation and we will not collect any legal fees until your claim is paid.