Liquor Store Liability in Georgia

When a bar, tavern, restaurant, or liquor store sells a minor or an intoxicated person alcohol, and that person goes on to cause a car accident and injure another, the injury victim may seek compensation from not only the intoxicated person but also the vendor that sold alcohol to someone who was underage, stumbling, slurring, or otherwise visibly intoxicated.

You may have heard of liquor store liability referred to as “dram shop” laws, and in Georgia, the state’s dram shop law lays out exactly what you need to show in order to hold a seller of alcohol accountable for failing to check I.D., overserving, or ignoring an individual’s drunken state.

Georgia Dram Shop Law

Georgia Code section 51-1-40 allows an injury victim to recover compensation from a seller of alcohol if the establishment:

• “willfully, knowingly, and unlawfully” serves alcohol to a minor under age 21, or
• “knowingly” serves alcohol to a person who is “noticeably intoxicated,” and
• the person serving alcohol knew the minor or intoxicated person will soon be driving a motor vehicle

While Georgia’s “knowledge requirement” works in favor of alcohol sellers, our experienced personal injury attorneys know how to prove intentional conduct under Georgia dram shop law. Sometimes a case hinges on proving the person who injured you was “noticeably intoxicated.” Our experienced attorneys will work to gather eyewitness testimony from other establishment patrons and employees, moving quickly to locate and interview these witnesses while they still remember accurately what happened before you were injured.

We can also help if the establishment that served the minor or intoxicated person lacks adequate insurance to cover your claim. These situations can become very complex, but we deal with insurance matters regularly and know how to best pursue compensation on your behalf.

Contact the Legal Team at KWF for More Information on Liquor Store Liability

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver (whether under or over the age of 18), we can help you determine if you have a claim against an establishment that served him or her alcohol. Contact Katz Personal Injury Lawyers today at 404-460-0101 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your matter. All information is kept strictly confidential and we represent clients with claims anywhere in Georgia, including Atlanta, Marietta, Conyers, Duluth and Decatur.