If you or your loved one suffered serious injuries or a fatal accident because someone was served too much alcohol, you may be entitled to significant compensation. The team of seasoned car accident attorneys at AW Smith Law is ready to help. Our detail-oriented Columbia, MO dram shop liability lawyers will fight diligently on your behalf to prove that someone knowingly served too much alcohol or served a minor, leading to your accident and injuries.
When lawmakers write about legal responsibility, they often use the term “liability.” In Missouri, it is the legal responsibility of bar owners, nightclubs, bartenders, hoteliers, caterers, and liquor store employees to serve liquor only to adults ages 21 and up. Additionally, someone obviously intoxicated must be refused the sale of alcohol.
Specifically, Missouri law states that a lawsuit can be brought against any seller who knowingly served alcohol to a person under legal drinking age or a visibly intoxicated individual. In other words, those who knowingly serve inebriated or underaged persons can be found liable for resulting accidents, injuries, and death. A Columbia dram shop attorney could further explain how state law may apply to a specific case.
Victims of dram shop liability lawsuits sometimes face challenges to proving a bartender or server knew an individual was intoxicated. Liquor license holders (for example, bar owners) are usually reluctant to relinquish evidence suggesting their staff made an error, as it could affect their license, business insurance, and reputation.
Luckily, our firm’s dram shop liability lawyers have plenty of experience in this situation.
AW Smith Law’s dram shop liability lawyers could help you prove to the court that a Columbia individual was served too much or while they were already intoxicated by gathering the following evidence:
Ultimately, our goal is to prove the person who caused your accident and resulting injuries was served too much alcohol or was drinking under the legal age. To do this, we could get the court to issue subpoenas compelling a bar or nightclub to turn over any evidence from the night in question. We could also encourage other witnesses to surrender cell phone photos, videos, text messages, and more.
If a bar or nightclub owner refuses to share evidence connected to an accident for which they are liable, call an attorney right away.
At AW Smith Law, our tech-savvy, seasoned attorneys are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our team often works on a contingency basis, meaning we do not collect fees until our clients get paid. Contact a Columbia dram shop liability lawyer today to book your first consultation.
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