Dram Shop Liability in Connecticut

Hartford Personal Injury Attorney Advocating for You

A personal injury claim often involves just two parties – the injured person and the person who caused the injuries. According to Connecticut’s dram shop laws, however, there may be a third party held responsible in alcohol-related accidents.

The state’s dram shop laws hold that if a negligent person was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, the injured party may be able to hold both the negligent person and the vendor who sold that person the alcohol liable.

Without question, dram shop claims can be immensely complex. We believe that this shouldn’t hold you back from recovering compensation and have made ourselves available as a legal advocate to injured victims throughout the state. As experienced Hartford personal injury lawyers, we fight tirelessly for our clients.

What Compensation Is Available Under a Dram Shop Claim?

The dram shop law is the same for vendors who sell alcohol to minors and to those who are legally allowed to drink. Only vendors can be held responsible, not an individual who is merely hosting a party. If a bar owner continues serving alcohol to a customer who is visibly intoxicated and that customer then causes injury to someone else, the bar owner may be at fault based on the state’s dram shop liability laws.

Similar to a personal injury case, you may be compensated for the following:

• Medical and rehabilitation bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Lost or damaged property
• Loss of enjoyment of life

All dram shop claims must be filed within a year of the date of the injury. It is also important to note that if you choose to file a dram shop lawsuit, you must notify the vendor within 120 days of the injury. This time passes quickly and can prevent you from filing if you do not act accordingly.

Schedule your consultation with a Hartford personal injury attorney at Carlson & Dumeer, LLC right away to begin the process and protect yourself from further injustice.