What is dram shop law?

Dram shop law establishes the circumstances under which a bar, restaurant, club, or other business entity that furnishes alcoholic beverages can be held liable for injuries. In Pennsylvania, you can generally file a dram shop claim only in instances in which you can establish that the bar and its employees were negligent in overserving a customer who should not have been served alcohol.

Can you sue a bar for overserving alcohol in PA?

An injured party can sue a bar for overserving alcohol in Pennsylvania when their injuries resulted from this conduct and: The person who was overserved was visibly intoxicated or The person who was overserved was a minor under the legal drinking age of 21 Other establishments that sell, serve, or furnish alcohol can also be sued under dram shop laws, including taverns, restaurants, clubs, casinos, entertainment venues, and private events. When the person who was overserved was of legal drinking age, establishing that the bar continued to serve them even after they were visibly intoxicated is essential for pursuing a dram shop claim.

How can you prove someone was over-served at a bar in Pennsylvania?

As your liquor liability attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, an important part of our work in a dram shop claim is to establish that the worker who served you at a bar or restaurant knew or should have known that you were intoxicated. Under state law, it’s illegal to serve, sell, or furnish alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person. We will seek to establish that the person was visibly intoxicated, yet the bar continued to serve them alcohol. As part of an investigation, we will analyze photo and video evidence, including video surveillance footage, and obtain eyewitness accounts. We can use signs like the following to establish that the person was visibly intoxicated: Slurred speech A strong smell of alcohol on your person Bloodshot eyes Visible difficulty standing or walking Loud, boisterous behavior Verbal admissions of heavy drinking This evidence is crucial in establishing that the workers who overserved a customer are subject to liability for your injuries. However, one case in which it’s not necessary to prove that a person was visibly intoxicated is when the person served alcohol was a minor (under age 21). Under Pennsylvania state law, businesses can be held liable for consequences that result from over-serving a minor, even if they were not visibly intoxicated.

Who can file a claim for dram shop liability?

Generally, two categories of people can seek compensation for injuries under Pennsylvania’s dram shop laws: The person who was overserved Anyone injured by the overserved person To be able to file a dram shop injury claim, you must establish that the bar, restaurant, or other business is liable for your damages on the grounds that it over-served you or the person who injured you. You also need documented injuries and other damages. Our Philadelphia dram shop lawyers represent victims of drunk driving accidents, intoxicated falls, assaults, and other injuries.

Philadelphia Dram Shop Lawyers | Liquor Liability Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia Dram Shop Lawyers

Liquor Liability Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA
Understanding Dram Shop Liability Claims in Philadelphia, PA
How Anapol Weiss Can Help
Why Choose Anapol Weiss?
Contact the Philadelphia Dram Shop Lawyers at Anapol Weiss Today for a Free Case Evaluation

Liquor Liability Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA

Overserving alcohol is a dangerous practice that’s entirely too common. The Philadelphia dram shop lawyers at Anapol Weiss hold bars, restaurants, and clubs accountable for the serious injuries that result when employees serve alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated.

It’s often difficult to determine exactly who could be held legally responsible for your injuries. As experienced personal injury and liquor liability attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, we’re prepared to identify all potential defendants and avenues of seeking compensation, including through dram shop liability cases. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Understanding Dram Shop Liability Claims in Philadelphia, PA

Dram shop law refers to claims or lawsuits against bars, restaurants, taverns, and other establishments that serve alcohol. The framework through which attorneys in Pennsylvania can pursue dram shop liability claims is written into state law.

Under Section 4-493 of Pennsylvania Statutes Title 47, it’s unlawful to sell, serve, or otherwise furnish alcoholic beverages to any person who is visibly intoxicated or a minor. This statute also establishes serving alcoholic beverages to visibly intoxicated persons and minors as exceptions to rules against filing causes of action against such establishments.

Section 4-497 of Pennsylvania Statutes Title 47 further establishes this exception to rules against third persons seeking damages for injuries caused by a customer who has been overserved by dram shops of any kind.

Pennsylvania’s dram shop laws mean that, under certain circumstances involving the negligent overserving of a customer, it may be possible for either the customer themselves or someone injured by their actions to seek compensation from the bar that served the alcohol.

Compensation in a Dram Shop Injury Claim

A dram shop claim is a civil legal matter rather than a criminal matter. The intended outcome of your claim is to recover financial compensation for your injuries and other damages rather than criminal charges or fines. You can pursue a dram shop claim regardless of whether any criminal charges are filed.

Our liquor liability attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, seek to recover compensation for all of the legally recognized damages that can result from overserving alcohol, such as:

Medical and rehabilitation expenses
The projected costs of any future medical care required for long-term injuries
Lost wages during your recovery
Any decline in your future earning potential as a result of permanent disability
Pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and other non-economic damages

The money you receive from a dram shop liability claim is meant to compensate you for your losses, both economic and non-economic. In instances in which the defendant’s actions were particularly egregious, a court may award punitive damages, which is money the defendant is ordered to pay you as a punishment and a deterrent to future behavior. Our Philadelphia dram shop lawyers will fight for the maximum compensation available to you because we know how much you’re depending on this payout to get your life back on track.

Examples of Dram Shop Cases Anapol Weiss Handles

Dram shop liability claims involve any claims against employees serving alcohol at a bar, restaurant, or other place of business and the establishments that employ them for negligently overserving a customer. Potential cases that could involve a dram shop component include the following.

Drunk Driving Accidents

Both victims injured by drunk drivers and the motorists who were overserved themselves may have grounds for a dram shop claim. Our Philadelphia dram shop lawyers can assist with car accidents involving two or more vehicles, single-vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other crashes arising out of the overserving of alcohol.

Falls Due to Intoxication

If you were too drunk to walk or stand, the bar should not have continued serving you alcohol. If it did, you may be able to hold the establishment accountable for any injuries you sustained from falling. As experienced liquor liability attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, we’re prepared to hold bars legally responsible for the injuries overserved customers sustain falling on sidewalks, stairways, and other environments.

Assault and Battery by an Intoxicated Perpetrator

The actual assailant may not be the only one whose conduct contributed to an assault. If your attacker was intoxicated due to having been overserved at a bar or another establishment, you could have a claim against the business and its employees for this negligent conduct.

How Anapol Weiss Can Help

Claims against bars for negligently overserving customers are complicated legal issues. The Philadelphia dram shop lawyers at Anapol Weiss don’t back down from these complex matters. We assist clients with a wide range of dram shop cases, including claims that involve challenges like:

Multiple defendants
Catastrophic injuries
Serving alcohol to minors
Comparative negligence

Our name is known throughout the region and beyond for our relentless work fighting for the injured.

As we handle your case, you can expect:

A professional analysis of the facts during a free consultation
An investigation that emphasizes the identification of all potentially liable parties and evidence that the establishment overserved a visibly intoxicated customer
Thorough documentation of all of your damages
Comprehensive preparation of your claim, including the filing of all paperwork and legal documents and management of all deadlines and procedural requirements
Representation of you and your interests in all legal proceedings relating to the civil claim you’re pursuing
Professional advice and reliable guidance throughout the legal process
Settlement negotiations and, if needed, trial representation to recover financial compensation

Our approach to the claims process consistently achieves results for our clients.

Why Choose Anapol Weiss?

When you put your claim in our hands, you gain the benefits of having legal leaders on your side, fighting to get you maximum compensation.

Leaders in the Legal Process

Dram shop claims are complex legal matters. Our attorneys don’t back down from a challenge. We have a history of securing victories that set new legal precedents and leading the legal system.

Billions of Dollars in Results

Our Philadelphia dram shop lawyers are dedicated to maximizing our clients’ recoveries, and we have the track record to prove it. Anapole Weiss has obtained billions of dollars in settlements, judgments, and verdicts for our clients.

Affordable Representation With No Upfront Fees

Think you can’t afford to retain a nationally recognized team of attorneys to handle your injury claim? Anapol Weiss represents clients on a contingency basis. This means you benefit from our award-winning legal skills and client-centered service without ever having to pay upfront costs for your legal claim.

Contact the Philadelphia Dram Shop Lawyers at Anapol Weiss Today for a Free Case Evaluation

Our team is committed to holding bars, taverns, and their employees responsible for the devastating consequences of overserving alcohol. We fight for full compensation for all of our clients’ losses.

For help from our experienced liquor liability attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, contact Anapol Weiss online or call 215-608-9645 today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dram Shop Liability Claims in Philadelphia and Throughout Pennsylvania

An injured party can sue a bar for overserving alcohol in Pennsylvania when their injuries resulted from this conduct and:
The person who was overserved was visibly intoxicated or
The person who was overserved was a minor under the legal drinking age of 21
Other establishments that sell, serve, or furnish alcohol can also be sued under dram shop laws, including taverns, restaurants, clubs, casinos, entertainment venues, and private events. When the person who was overserved was of legal drinking age, establishing that the bar continued to serve them even after they were visibly intoxicated is essential for pursuing a dram shop claim.
As your liquor liability attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, an important part of our work in a dram shop claim is to establish that the worker who served you at a bar or restaurant knew or should have known that you were intoxicated.
Under state law, it’s illegal to serve, sell, or furnish alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person. We will seek to establish that the person was visibly intoxicated, yet the bar continued to serve them alcohol. As part of an investigation, we will analyze photo and video evidence, including video surveillance footage, and obtain eyewitness accounts. We can use signs like the following to establish that the person was visibly intoxicated:
Slurred speech
A strong smell of alcohol on your person
Bloodshot eyes
Visible difficulty standing or walking
Loud, boisterous behavior
Verbal admissions of heavy drinking
This evidence is crucial in establishing that the workers who overserved a customer are subject to liability for your injuries. However, one case in which it’s not necessary to prove that a person was visibly intoxicated is when the person served alcohol was a minor (under age 21). Under Pennsylvania state law, businesses can be held liable for consequences that result from over-serving a minor, even if they were not visibly intoxicated.
Generally, two categories of people can seek compensation for injuries under Pennsylvania’s dram shop laws:
The person who was overserved
Anyone injured by the overserved person
To be able to file a dram shop injury claim, you must establish that the bar, restaurant, or other business is liable for your damages on the grounds that it over-served you or the person who injured you. You also need documented injuries and other damages.
Our Philadelphia dram shop lawyers represent victims of drunk driving accidents, intoxicated falls, assaults, and other injuries.