A night out can change your life in seconds when a visibly intoxicated person gets behind the wheel and causes a serious collision. Victims often face painful injuries, lost income, medical expenses, and uncertainty about what comes next. A Galveston dram shop lawyer from our practice could help you determine whether a bar, restaurant, or other alcohol provider may share legal responsibility for the harm you suffered.
At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, we represent injury victims throughout the city in complex personal injury claims involving alcohol-related negligence. While the intoxicated driver may seem like the only liable party, Texas law sometimes allows injured people to pursue claims against establishments that continued serving alcohol to someone who was clearly impaired. Working with our seasoned car accident attorneys early could help preserve evidence and strengthen your claim.
When May Courts Hold Alcohol Providers Liable?
The state’s dram shop laws give certain injury victims the ability to seek legal action through an attorney when Galveston businesses irresponsibly serve alcohol. Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 2.02, an establishment may be liable when it provides alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person who presents a clear danger to themselves or others, and that intoxication becomes a proximate cause of injuries or damages.
These claims commonly arise after drunk driving collisions, pedestrian accidents, assaults connected to overservice at bars or clubs, boating incidents involving alcohol, and fatal crashes caused by intoxicated drivers. In each situation, the central issue is whether the alcohol provider continued serving someone who was obviously impaired and posed a danger to others. Our lawyers could investigate these details carefully to identify all potentially responsible parties.
Could a Bar or Restaurant Share Responsibility for Your Injuries?
Many injured people assume they cannot pursue compensation beyond the impaired driver’s insurance policy. However, establishments that profit from alcohol sales also have legal obligations to act responsibly. In some situations, bars, restaurants, clubs, or event venues ignore warning signs of intoxication and continue serving patrons who should no longer receive alcohol.
State courts evaluate whether intoxication was apparent at the time the provider served alcohol. Signs may include:
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty walking or standing
- Aggressive behavior
- Bloodshot eyes
- Impaired coordination
- Loud or erratic conduct
These cases can become highly contested because establishments and insurers often argue the customer did not appear intoxicated or that another factor caused the crash. Our Galveston attorneys handle dram shop cases involving alcohol providers and could work to preserve surveillance footage, interview witnesses, and prevent critical evidence from disappearing.
Building a Strong Claim After an Alcohol-Related Accident
Dram shop claims move quickly because evidence can disappear within days. Businesses may overwrite surveillance footage, receipts may disappear, and witnesses can become difficult to locate. Prompt legal action allows your attorney to send preservation notices and begin investigating immediately. The state generally provides a two-year deadline for filing most personal injury lawsuits, but missing this deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation altogether.
When a business selling alcohol violates the law, dram shop attorneys at our Galveston firm could work to establish the full extent of your damages. Potential damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Long-term rehabilitation costs
- Wrongful death damages for surviving families
We understand that alcohol-related injury claims often involve traumatic and emotionally difficult circumstances. Our goal is to help you pursue accountability while protecting your financial future.
Speak With Our Galveston Dram Shop Lawyers Today
If you suffered an injury because an establishment continued serving alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated, you may have legal options beyond a claim against the impaired driver alone.
Our team at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris could investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, explain potential liability issues, and help you move forward with clarity. Contact us today to discuss your case with a Galveston Dram shop lawyer and learn how we may help you pursue compensation after a serious alcohol-related accident.
