Drinking and driving is an incredibly dangerous activity. Not only does it put the driver’s health at risk, but it can also lead to devastating car accidents that leave people with life-altering injuries.
If you were hurt in a crash involving a drunk driver, you may have a claim against more parties than just the drunk driver. If they were overserved at a bar or restaurant before driving, you may have a liquor liability, or dram shop, claim. Our dedicated auto crash attorneys can help you seek justice. A Mankato dram shop lawyer can answer your questions, advise you of your legal options, and help you pursue the best course of action. At Maschka Personal Injury, we can help bring order to your life when it is in chaos.
Minnesota law requires establishments, such as bars, taverns, restaurants, and liquor stores, to take a certain level of responsibility for alcohol sales. In situations where it is clear that a person is already impaired, these businesses and the people that work for them can become liable if the individuals they serve injure someone in a car accident.
The most common example of liquor liability – or dram shop liability – is a bartender continuing to serve someone even though they know the person is highly intoxicated. If that patron leaves the bar in a state that immediately causes a vehicle wreck, the business could be held liable for the damage caused by the drunk driver’s intoxication.
This type of liability has limits, though, as not every accident is the bar’s or restaurant’s fault. Dram shop laws only apply under certain circumstances.
How these laws impact a personal injury case may not be immediately apparent. Our Mankato dram shop attorneys can thoroughly investigate every aspect of your accident case, including whether or not the driver who hit you was impaired.
Although these claims are not as common as conventional negligence suits, they have significant financial compensation potential. The types of damages you are entitled to recover primarily depend on the nature of your injuries. A dram shop lawyer in Mankato can pursue various damages on your behalf.
Injuries in a collision with a drunk driver can keep you out of work for days, weeks, or more. A lawsuit can help you recover this sudden, unexpected loss of income. Our attorneys can review your employment records and establish what you would have earned had you never been hurt.
Medical treatment is another priority for most people injured in drunk driver crashes. You may have a case to recover surgery, physical therapy, and hospitalization costs.
We will work with you to determine what types of damages you may be entitled to and give you the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your case.
It can be extremely traumatic to be involved in a car wreck, particularly if the other driver involved is intoxicated. In addition to the intoxicated driver, you may also have a viable claim against the business that overserved them with alcohol.
Let a Mankato dram shop lawyer help you pursue justice for your injuries. Contact us today for a free meeting to discuss your case.
