In Georgia, where a bar, restaurant or for that matter any other person provides alcoholic beverages to someone who is noticeably intoxicated and is known to be intending to drive a vehicle can be held legally liable for injuries or death which result from a drunk driver. This type of case is called a Dram Shop claim.
A recent decision from the Court of Appeals in the State of NY has been reported, Noleen G. Walder, Law.com July 14, 2009 In that case a plaintiff sought to sue a convenience store company which sold alcohol to a drunk driver. The Appellate Court dismissed the case, not allowing testimony that alcohol could be smelled on the purchaser.
This court ruling points out the pitfalls that can exist in Dram Shop cases. Our Atlanta Georgia serious motor vehicle collision law firm is careful to do a thorough investigation and make sure that all evidence is carefully developed to make out one of these cases. When someone is seriously injured or killed in a drunk driving collision it is always critical to investigate where the drunk driver had been before the accident to see if a Dram Shop case can be established.
Georgia Cases against Servers of Alcohol to Drunk Drivers
July 16, 2009
