If you were injured by a drunk driver, it is important to hold the negligent party responsible. While the driver is responsible, other parties may be held accountable as well. This is because New Jersey has both social host and dram shop laws. Read on to learn more.
What are New Jersey’s social host liability laws?
Social host liability laws permit an injured person to recover damages from a social host who provided alcohol to an intoxicated individual at a party or similar event when that guest goes on to cause an alcohol-related accident. The host can also be responsible if there is evidence that he or she served alcohol to an individual under the legal drinking age. In order to bring a successful claim against the host, the injured party typically must demonstrate that:
- the person who caused the injuries was visibly intoxicated in the presence of the host
- the injury resulted from a motor vehicle accident caused by the intoxicated person who was served by the social host.
What are dram shop laws?
Not every state has dram shop laws. Luckily, New Jersey does. These laws allow those injured in drunk driving accidents to sue third-party establishments or vendors and hold them responsible for their role in the accident. In New Jersey, the dram shop laws state that vendors are banned from selling alcohol to individuals either under the age of 21 or those who are “visibly intoxicated.” Visible intoxication can involve slurred speech, glassy or bloodshot eyes, difficulty finishing sentences, incoherent speech, stumbling, falling, impaired fine motor skills, and more. If you can prove that an establishment served an underage patron or overserved a visibly intoxicated patron and this individual went on to cause an accident as a result, you will likely be entitled to recover compensation.
What is the statute of limitations?
In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is generally two years from the date of the accident. This means that waiting too long can mean losing your opportunity to recover the compensation you need and deserve in order to heal. To avoid missing any important deadlines, contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, our firm will fight for you. Reach out today to discuss your case with an experienced and dedicated personal injury attorney.
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If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident or were injured on another person’s property, please contact our firm today.
