(864) 582-0416 A car crash caused by drunk driving or other alcohol-related injuries can result in pain, expenses, missed work, or even death, and many questions about fault. Sometimes, the drunk driver is not the only at-fault party. If an establishment like a bar, restaurant, or club served alcohol improperly, a personal injury lawyer can look into whether that business shares responsibility in the case.
A Spartanburg dram shop lawyer helps injured people look at the full chain of events, not just the final impact. In South Carolina, there is no separate Dram Shop Act. Instead, these cases usually arise from alcohol-control statutes and court decisions that allow injured third parties to bring negligence claims against businesses that violate those alcohol laws.
A dram shop claim may apply when an alcohol seller in Spartanburg unlawfully serves someone who is under twenty-one or visibly intoxicated, and that service is later tied to a crash or other injury. In South Carolina, that can include unlawful sales of beer, wine, or liquor by a business that should have refused the transaction.
These cases are usually brought by people harmed by the drunk driver. South Carolina courts allow injured third parties to pursue negligence claims tied to violations of the state’s alcohol-control laws, but an intoxicated adult generally cannot recover from the tavern for his own injuries.
A Spartanburg dram shop attorney will usually look for evidence showing what the business knew before the sale or service happened. That can include receipts, tabs, surveillance video, witness statements, incident reports, and law enforcement records. In a crash case, the timeline often matters a great deal because it helps connect the service of alcohol to the intoxicated person’s condition and the harm that followed.
Training and internal practices can matter too. Alcohol servers and managers at covered licensed premises are required to complete alcohol server training. That training includes recognizing intoxication, refusing service to intoxicated people, and refusing sales to underage customers. When a business ignores those warning signs, that can become an important part of the case.
A claim for injuries caused by drunk driving is one issue. A dram shop claim raises an additional question: Did a business contribute to the risk by making an unlawful sale or service? This often requires going beyond the accident report and investigating what occurred inside the establishment before the driver got on the road.
This extra effort can be pivotal when seeking compensation for your injuries. A liability claim against a Spartanburg bar may involve insurance matters, multiple defendants, and significant resistance from the business and its insurer. The aim is to prove not only the seriousness of your injuries but also that the alcohol was sold or served improperly. Establishing this early can significantly influence settlement negotiations.
If you were hurt by an impaired driver who may have negligently been served alcohol, do not assume the driver is the only person who can be held responsible. A Spartanburg dram shop lawyer at our firm can review the facts, explain whether a bar or restaurant may be part of the claim, and help you decide whether to pursue a claim, seek a settlement, or file suit.
Call Holland & Usry today for a FREE case review. We will listen to what happened, look at the available proof, and give you a direct assessment of whether a dram shop claim belongs in your case.
