What is “Dram Shop”?

A “dram shop” is any bar, pub, tavern, or restaurant that sells alcohol to customers. In the legal world, a dram shop case is one in which a drunk driving crash occurs because (1) an establishment sold alcohol to an already-intoxicated customer, or (2) it sold so much alcohol to a person that the person became intoxicated. If this happens, the bar/restaurant is responsible for the injuries the drunk driver causes. In other words, a dram shop case is really a bar/restaurant liability case.

What are the relevant statistics?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 30 people die in the United States every day due to drunk drivers. That breaks down to one death every 50 minutes. Mothers Against Drunk Driving states that more than 300,000 people were injured in drunk driving crashes.

What is the law in Arizona regarding drunk driving crashes that result from bar/restaurant liability?

In Arizona, victims of drunk driving crashes can recover money for injuries or death from both the driver and the bar, restaurant, or other establishment that served the driver with alcohol prior to the crash. It takes an experienced dram shop lawyer to investigate and litigate a case against the driver who hit you and the establishment that sold alcohol to the driver before they got behind the wheel of their car. Bars, restaurants and other establishments where liquor is served can be liable for overserving a customer, selling alcohol to a minor, selling liquor without a license, and selling liquor after hours.

At Snyder & Wenner, we handle catastrophic injuries and wrongful death cases caused by drunk drivers. Contact us today via email for more information, or call us at 602-224-0005.