Recent years have seen so much attention dedicated to raising awareness on the dangers of drunk driving that you may find it difficult to believe that anyone in Stamford would be negligent enough to engage in such action. Yet as many of our past clients here at the Law Office of John J. LaCava, LLC can attest to, this issue remains a problem.
After experiencing an accident caused by a drunk driver, you could face a veritable mountain of accident expenses, ranging from medical bills to vehicle repair costs. Seeking compensation from the driver that caused the accident is an option, yet about the parties that may have contributed to their intoxication?
What are dram shop laws?
Assigning vicarious liability to a third party (either a social host or an establishment) that served alcohol to a driver who subsequently caused an accident is possible due to dram shop laws. “Dram shop” refers back to American colonial times when shops sold alcohol in units known as “drams.” The purpose of these liability laws is to add a layer of accountability to prevent drunk driving by discouraging restaurants, bars and private parties (through the threat of litigation) from overserving patrons or friends.
Citing dram shop liability in your car accident case
Connecticut does indeed subscribe to the principle of dram shop liability, yet only in certain circumstances. Per the Connecticut General Assembly, you can bring action against an establishment or social host that served the drunk driver that caused your action, but only if the driver was under the age of 21. The law allows such action to net up to $250,000 in compensatory damages.
You can discover more information on assigning liability for a drunk driving accident by continuing to explore our site.
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