Pittsburgh Liquor Liability Lawyer

Dram Shop Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA Pursues Justice for Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents in Allegheny County and Throughout Pennsylvania

Were you injured in a car crash with a drunk driver? You may assume that your options for compensation are limited to pursuing a claim against the intoxicated motorist. But if that driver was overserved alcohol or served alcohol while under age, you may be entitled to pursue financial recovery from the establishment or social host that furnished the alcohol. Turn to a Pittsburgh liquor liability lawyer from Matzus Law to learn more about the potential avenues for compensation available to you. At our firm, we measure success by whether we have made a difference in our clients’ lives. For us, that means ensuring that you not only make a financial recovery but also obtain the physical and emotional healing you need after a devastating accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness. No matter how long it takes, you can expect our team to be by your side at every step of the recovery process. 

After being hurt in an auto accident with a drunk driver, get the legal representation you need to help you pursue accountability and compensation from a liable bar or restaurant. Reach out to Matzus Law for a free initial case review to discuss your legal options with our dram shop attorney in Pittsburgh, PA.

What Are the Liquor Liability Laws in Pittsburgh?

In Pennsylvania, liquor liability laws can hold certain parties responsible when a drunk driver causes an auto accident that leads to others suffering injuries. This allows DUI accident victims to seek financial recovery from more than just the driver. Under the liquor liability laws, also called dram shop laws, a bar, tavern, restaurant, or nightclub may be held liable when they continue to serve alcohol to a visibly intoxicated patron, and the patron then causes a car crash after leaving the establishment. Dram shop laws also hold establishments liable when they serve alcohol to an underage patron who causes an accident after leaving the establishment.

The dram shop laws in Pennsylvania also impose liability upon social hosts in certain circumstances. If a person hosts a party or gathering at their home and serves alcohol to an underage guest, the host can be held liable for injuries suffered by others who are hit by the intoxicated underage guest. 

How Can a Business Be Held Liable for DUI Accident Injuries?

Businesses can be held liable for DUI accidents caused by their patrons under various circumstances, including:

• A patron enters an establishment while visibly intoxicated and the establishment agrees to serve the patron alcohol
• A patron becomes visibly intoxicated while visiting an establishment and a bartender or server fails to cut the patron off after they have become visibly intoxicated
• A bartender or server fails to request identification from underage patrons and serves them alcohol
• A bartender or server knowingly serves alcohol to an underage patron

What Compensation Might You Be Entitled to in a Dram Shop Liability Claim?

A dram shop liability claim can allow you to recover compensation from a bar, restaurant, club, or social host for all of your expenses and losses that you incur after getting into an accident caused by an intoxicated driver served by that establishment or host. Financial recovery in your claim may provide you with money for:

• Repair costs to fix damage to your vehicle, or payment for the cash value of your car if it was totaled in the accident
• Medical and rehabiliation expenses, including hospital bills, prescription costs, medical/mobility equipment purchases, or physical/occupational therapy services
• Long-term care expenses, such as the cost of home health services, if you injuries lead to permanent disability
• Lost wages/income if you cannot work due to the injuries you suffered in a crash
• Lost future earning capacity if you become permanently disabled from employment
• Pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment and quality of life due to disabilities or permanent scarring or disfigurement

Let a Pittsburgh Liquor Liability Lawyer with Matzus Law Help You Obtain a Full Financial Recovery After Being Injured in an Accident with a Drunk Driver

After you have been hurt in a drunk driving accident where the driver had been overserved or illegally served alcohol, turn to a dram shop attorney in Pittsburgh, PA from Matzus Law, for help in pursuing legal claims against drinking establishments and social hosts. Our firm will take care of all the details of preparing and pursuing your case, including:

• Obtaining evidence we need to prove an establishment’s or social host’s liability to you, including surveillance footage, receipts, eyewitness statements, and BAC test results
• Retaining leading expert witnesses to testify as to how the drunk driver was negligently allowed to continue consuming alcohol past the point of visible intoxication
• Recording your ongoing expenses and losses and working with financial, medical, and vocational experts to estimate your future anticipated expenses
• Filing your claims with the liable parties and their insurers to begin the process of vigorously negotiating for a settlement that pays you full compensation 
• Taking your case to trial if liable parties won’t agree to a fair settlement, advocating on your behalf to fight for a verdict in your favor

Contact Our Firm for a Free Claim Evaluation to Learn More About Your Rights from a Dram Shop Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by an intoxicated driver, you may also have the right to pursue financial compensation from an establishment that serves alcohol to the driver. Contact Matzus Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss what a Pittsburgh liquor liability lawyer from our firm can do to help you maximize your financial recovery in a dram shop law claim. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Liquor Liability in Pittsburgh