Can I sue a bar in Naples, FL for over serving a customer who later caused a drunk driving accident?

Bars and other establishments that serve alcohol in the state of Florida can be held liable for compensating a victim for the injuries they suffered if a customer was overserved alcohol and later caused a drunk driving accident. Florida’s Dram Shop law permits certain victims to file a civil lawsuit against the establishment in an effort to recover damages (i.e. compensation paid to a victim as a form of relief). To find out if you have a viable case against a bar or other establishment located in or nearby to Naples, read on below to learn more about Florida’s laws and who you can contact for help with filing your civil suit.

 

Understanding Florida’s Dram Shop Law

 

According to Florida state statute §768.125, “A person who sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages to a person of lawful drinking age shall not thereby become liable for injury or damage caused by or resulting from the intoxication of such person, except that a person who willfully and unlawfully sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages to a person who is not of lawful drinking age or who knowingly serves a person habitually addicted to the use of any or all alcoholic beverages may become liable for injury or damage caused by or resulting from the intoxication of such minor or person.”

Essentially what this means is that a drunk driving accident victim could file suit against a bar or other vendor if someone there sold or furnished alcohol to the driver who was clearly intoxicated and later caused an accident. Now, in order to invoke Florida’s Dram Shop law, not only are you going to need to prove that the bartender or person who sold the alcohol knew the individual responsible for the crash was already intoxicated, but you are going to need to hire a Naples, FL drunk driving accident attorney to help you do this.

 It is highly recommended that you retain a drunk driving accident lawyer who will assist you with gathering all the evidence you need, assess your damages and place a value on them, and to increase your chances of winning your case.

 

What damages might a drunk driving accident victim recover when invoking Florida’s Dram Shop law?

 

While it does depend on the outcome of the alcohol-related accident, generally, victims are entitled to request that they be awarded the following damages in their civil lawsuit given they apply:

 

• Pain and suffering
• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium

 

If your DUI accident lawyer determines you are entitled to one or more of the damages listed above, they will then estimate what you should be awarded for each and present this to the court.

 

Who can I contact for legal help after engaging in a drunk driving accident in Naples?

 

You can always reach out to King Law for legal advice and representation. The lawyers at King Law understand how difficult life can be after suffering injuries in a drunk driving accident which is why they are available to help you file suit against all liable parties who played a role in causing the collision to transpire.

 

King Law can be reached at:

 

2640 Golden Gate Pkwy. , Suite 114
Naples Florida 34105

Phone: 888-732-6546

Website: www.888seanking.com