Dram Shop Law Attorneys in Oregon
When a drunk driver causes a crash that injures or kills someone, they can be held liable for damages in a personal injury lawsuit. However, if other parties contributed to a driver becoming intoxicated, they could be responsible for damages as well under Oregon’s dram shop law. Our drunk driving accident lawyers at Johnson and Taylor have years of experience handling all types of dram shop and social host liability cases. If you’ve been hurt or have lost a loved one, we can evaluate your case and advise you of whether you could have a possible dram shop claim.
Oregon Dram Shop Law
Dram shop laws enable injured victims to hold establishments that serve alcohol liable if they serve a visibly intoxicated person who causes harm to others. In Oregon, dram shop law applies to all businesses that serve alcohol, including bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and stadium vendors.
To hold a bar or restaurant owner or alcohol vendor liable for a drunk driving accident, the victim must prove that the driver was visibly intoxicated when provided alcohol by the establishment. Another factor that’s taken into consideration is whether the injured victim substantially contributed to the driver’s intoxication.
For example, a person at a bar has been drinking for hours, yet the bartender continues to serve them although they are visibly intoxicated. If that person gets behind the wheel and hurts or kills someone, the bar owner may be liable for damages.
However, if someone is out drinking with a friend who drives them home and gets in an accident, the bar may not be liable if the passenger substantially contributed to the driver’s intoxication. This means that if they encouraged the driver to keep drinking or bought them drinks, it would be unlikely that they’d win a dram shop injury lawsuit against the establishment that served the alcohol.
Regardless of the circumstances, if you have been hurt in a drunk driving accident, it’s a good idea to have a personal injury lawyer evaluate your case. Our vehicle accident lawyers offer free, no-obligation consultations, so you have nothing to lose if you seek the advice of our attorneys.
Social Host Liability
An injured victim may also bring a claim against a social host who served alcohol to guests at their home. This type of case often involves adults allowing minors to drink on their property. This goes for alcohol vendors as well. If a bartender fails to request ID and serves someone who looks like they’re under 21, the establishment could be liable if the underage person is injured or hurts someone in an accident, even if they weren’t visibly intoxicated when served.
Social host liability and dram shop injury claims are complex and can be hard to prove. Our drunk driving accident lawyers know dram shop law inside and out and understand what kind of evidence can help demonstrate liability in these cases.
Recovering Damages in Dram Shop Claims
Our personal injury attorneys know the devastation that drunk drivers can cause. An injured victim may require extensive medical care, including surgery, hospital stays, and rehabilitation services. They may not be able to earn a living or enjoy the things they used to love. We help victims hold all liable parties accountable. Our vehicle accident lawyers may be able to help you recover damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If a loved one was the victim of a fatal accident and you believe an establishment or individual may have over-served a drunk driver, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against them.
Why Choose Our Vehicle Accident Lawyers?
When you’re hurt and trying to heal, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn. When looking for a personal injury attorney, people sometimes think finding a large firm that makes big promises is the way to go. Our vehicle accident lawyers believe it’s more important to find an attorney who’s right for you.
Our drunk driving accident lawyers listen to your story and tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear. We give you a straightforward, realistic assessment of your case, and don’t waste your time or money with bogus settlement guarantees and empty promises.
Our team is dedicated to serving personal injury victims throughout the state of Oregon. We help you understand your options and the realistic possibilities for recovering compensation. Our vehicle accident attorneys fight for you while keeping you informed about your case every step of the way. Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means you won’t incur any up-front costs or pay attorneys’ fees unless we help you get compensation.
Contact Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Oregon
Our team at Johnson and Taylor handles personal injury claims, divorce and family law matters, and estate planning and probate cases. If you’ve been hurt or you have lost a loved one in a drunk driving crash, our personal injury lawyers can help. To learn more about dram shop law or to schedule a consultation, contact us or call 503-990-6641. Members of our team are fluent in Spanish. Our vehicle accident personal injury lawyers serve clients in Salem, Eugene, Bend, the Oregon Coast, Medford, and throughout the entire state of Oregon.