Top Rated Houston Attorneys
Suing Bars and Clubs
What is a dram shop lawyer? A dram shop lawyer is a personal injury attorney who has experience in suing bars and clubs that overserved a customer whose intoxication lead to another getting hurt or killed. Our law firm has been winning huge dram shop settlements for over three decades. If a family member has been killed or severely injured by a drunk driver call our team for a no-cost consultation- at (281) 587-1111.
The Houston dram shop lawyers at the Baumgartner Law Firm have three decades of experience in handling high-profile serious injury and wrongful death dram shop cases. We have won huge verdicts or settlements in high-profile liquor liability cases in Dallas, Austin, Houston, and elsewhere across the state of Texas.
Call a leading car accident lawyer with a record of holding drunk drivers and bars accountable for maximum compensation for our clients.
Call (281) 587-1111
How Can
We Help You?
Have You Been Injured by a Drunk Driver?
Contact a Leading Houston Dram shop
liability lawyers Right Away
Have you been hit by a drunk driver? Sustained injuries and had to have medical treatment? Perhaps admitted to the hospital and wondering who is going to pay all of these bills? This is a common occurrence in the state of Texas.
Unfortunately, many times the driver who was drunk at the time of the automobile accident has a minimum policy that does not come close to covering the victim’s damages. Having the drunk driver go to jail does nothing for the injury victim. Fortunately, if the drunk driver was over-served at the bar there is a possibility that the bar may have liquor liability insurance. Cases against bars for clubs over-serving their patrons are not easy cases in Texas.
Nevertheless, the personal injury lawyers at the Baumgartner Law Firm, have been extremely successful in obtaining huge compensation for our clients over the years. Including punitive damages from a drunk driver. An initial investigation after a severe injury DWI accident is always needed to determine if a lawsuit or case against the bar or club can be pursued.
Drunk Driving Accidents
The vast majority of the dram shop cases stem from a drunk driving accident. In Texas, liquor liability cases are governed by the Texas Dram Shop Act, Section 2 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, as amended, which Act allows families who have lost a loved one and personal injury victims to bring lawsuits against commercial alcohol providers who may be responsible for a drunk driving accident. Hiring an experienced dram shop lawyer as soon as possible after an accident is a good first step toward justice.
Cases like a wrongful death lawsuit in Houston can take a long time to be resolved. the sooner you call our award-winning law firm the better!
Bars and Clubs May Be Liable
Generally, the burden of proof falls upon the plaintiff to prove that at the time the alcohol was provided to the drunk driver, the individual was obviously intoxicated such that he or she was a danger to themselves or others. Additionally, the plaintiff must prove that the over-serving of alcohol was a cause of the damages complained of by the plaintiff. An early investigation by an experienced dram shop lawyer who knows the liquor liability laws in Texas is essential to protect the victim’s rights.
Alcohol is a factor in many disastrous car accidents every year in Texas. People should never get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. One should know when he or she has too much to drink. And to call Uber or Lyft or designate a driver who has not been drinking.
It is not safe to drive after drinking. Those who drink and drive put everyone at risk.
Bars should make sure no one is unfit to drive leaves and drives home. Dram shop liability is part of any alcohol-serving business.
A dram shop is a business that sells or serves alcoholic beverages.
Bars serving alcohol to drunk people can be liable if that person later causes an accident.
Alcohol servers must cut off any person who is intoxicated. And not continue to serve them.
What is Dram Shop Law in Texas?
The Texas Dram Shop Act, an act that became a state law when it was enacted in 1987. The Texas Supreme Court interpreted the statute in an opinion that directly affects lawsuits brought against sellers of alcohol who have served obviously intoxicated individuals who have then suffered injuries.
The Dram Shop Act is the exclusive remedy in filing a lawsuit against a bar in Texas for serving a drunk.
Under the statute, a provider can be liable for damages in a civil suit based on the following proof:
- When the provider sold or served alcohol, the recipient of the alcohol was intoxicated, and there was a high probability that the individual threatened themselves or others.
- The intoxication of that individual then proximately caused the damages suffered.
Besides civil liability that may result from over-serving an individual and causing an indirect accident, the research also notes that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has the authority to revoke the alcohol permit of an alcoholic beverage provider that violates the provisions.
Continuing to serve an intoxicated person is the reason for the Texas dram shop law. Texas Dram Shop laws apply to more than Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) accidents and fatalities.
Those licensed alcohol sellers can be held liable for other things. Like sexual crimes, property damage, and other crimes. If the vendor continued to serve alcohol to someone who was clearly intoxicated. To the point of becoming a threat to others.
Examples of Dram Shop Lawsuits
Some examples of situations that may lead to a dram shop lawsuit:
• Victims of car accidents that involved a drunk driver
• Victims who were hurt by a drunk. (this can include a fight that took place inside or outside the establishment, domestic abuse, etc.)
• Adults who give alcohol to a minor. (the social host liability law allows alcohol providers can be held liable for damages caused by the minor).
Signs of Intoxication
Dram shop laws in Texas can be difficult for many to understand. Sellers of alcohol can be liable when folks are clearly under the influence and are continued to be served alcohol.
However, what is “visibly intoxicated”? There are common signs of intoxication.
These signs of intoxication include the following:
• Belligerence
• Loud or erratic behavior
• Slurred speech
• Inability to speak in complete sentences
• Impaired judgment
• Inability to walk or maintain a balance
• Slow reaction times
If someone in a bar that serves alcohol is displaying these behaviors, that person should no longer be served. Because he or she can be a danger to themselves and others.
The intoxicated person could easily injure themselves or others. When someone is obviously drunk, the bar should call a car service if they are too intoxicated to make the call.
What Evidence Is Needed to Determine Dram Shop Liability?
Proving obvious intoxication can be a huge challenge without the right accident and injury lawyer. At Baumgartner Law Firm, our goal is to help our clients achieve the level of justice they are seeking. We conduct investigations looking for evidence the defendant was intoxicated. And that the club continued to serve the person.
The evidence we seek includes receipts from the bar, debit/credit card receipts, and blood toxicology. Also eyewitness testimony from those who saw the visibly intoxicated individual. Security or video footage and testimony from a toxicologist.
How to Prove a Case Against a Bar?
The testimony of persons that witnessed the intoxicated behavior can be beneficial in cases against bars. And circumstantial evidence may also be considered. Proof such as one’s blood alcohol measured at some point later, slurred speech, staggered walking, and other visual clues would have alerted one to the fact that the individual was intoxicated well before being served more drinks.
No matter why the Texas Dram Shop Act was created, it is vital in showcasing that accountability not only lies with the individual drinking but can also be with bars that over-serve someone who obviously was drunk.
Let Baumgartner Law Firm Fight Your Dram Shop Case
Dram Shop laws have been designed to keep alcohol-serving commercial establishments from negligent serving practices. If a bar or club does violate the law, victims can sue for compensation. Cases involving dram shop liability are challenging and complex.
Our dram shop lawyers have won many huge settlements from bars in Texas. And we have never lost a dram shop case.
If you or a loved one was hurt in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, call us. The drunk driver can be sued and the bar may also if they violated the law.
Dram shop liability is one of the more complex areas of law. Talk with an experienced dram shop lawyer who has won dram shop cases and punitive damage cases for decades.
If you were injured by a drunk driver or lost a loved one in an accident caused by an intoxicated individual, Call our award-winning attorneys at Baumgartner Law Firm.
We are here to help you to get maximum compensation. Text us or Call (281) 587-1111 for a free consultation!
The Importance of Early Investigation of the Bar or Club
Our drunk driving accident lawyer has handled cases against bars and clubs who have over-served a customer who later had an accident injuring or killing others for over 35 years. When you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident involving serious injuries or the wrongful death loss of a family member, often the drunk driver does not have adequate liability insurance to cover the damages. The ability to bring a bar or a club to court to answer for their responsibility in over-serving the patron is sometimes the only civil justice available in many serious injuries or wrongful death accidents. We have a track record of obtaining maximum compensation for our clients.
Contact the Experienced Houston Dram Shop Liability Lawyers
It is often very important that a dram shop attorney the hired as soon as possible after the drunk driving auto accident so that a full investigation can be instigated as soon as possible. There are certain safe harbor defenses available to the bar or club and it is important that the attorney for the family started an investigation as soon as practicable after the accident. As the condition of the over-served patron can be a big issue in the lawsuit, the earlier the investigation begins more likely a successful conclusion. Thus, eyewitnesses can be extremely important in a typical dram shop case.
Call us for a no-obligation consultation and learn your rights and options. (281) 587-1111.
Other Types of Cases Our Houston Personal Injury Lawyers Focus on:
- CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER IN HOUSTON
- TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER IN HOUSTON
- WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYER IN HOUSTON
- MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER IN HOUSTON
- DAYCARE INJURY LAWYER IN HOUSTON
- CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT LAWYER IN HOUSTON
- HOUSTON ATV ACCIDENT LAWYER
- HOUSTON BOAT ACCIDENT LAWYER
- HOUSTON BRAIN INJURY LAWYER
- HOUSTON BURN INJURY LAWYER
- HOUSTON BUS ACCIDENT LAWYER
- HOUSTON CARBON MONOXIDE LAWYER
- HOUSTON CATASTROPHIC INJURY ATTORNEY
- HOUSTON DROWNING ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
- HOUSTON PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
- HOUSTON PRODUCT LIABILITY LAWYER
- HOUSTON PUNITIVE DAMAGES LAWYER
- LYFT ACCIDENT LAWYER IN HOUSTON
- UBER ACCIDENT LAWYER IN HOUSTON
- HOUSTON WORK INJURY LAWYER
Contact a Leading Houston Dram Shop
Lawyer Right Away
To get the compensation you deserve, an investigation should be started as soon as possible. Contact attorney Greg Baumgartner who has been peer-reviewed and preeminent rated for decades. Contact us online or call (281) 587-1111.
We help folks hurt throughout the greater Houston area, including:
Acres Homes, Aldine, Bellaire, Briarforest, Central Business District, Central Northwest, Chinatown, Deer Park, Dickinson, East Aldine, East Downtown, East Houston, Energy Corridor, Fourth Ward, Friendswood, Galeana Park, Greater Fifth Ward, Greater Hobby Area, Greater OST/South Union, Humble, Hyde Park, Independence Heights, Jacinto City, Jersey Village, La Marque, League City, Magnolia, Magnolia Park, Mission Bend, Northside, Northwest Houston, Pasadena, Pearland, Pinehurst, Rice Military, Second Ward, Shady Acres, South Central Houston, South Main, South Park, Southeast Houston, Southwest Houston, Spring, Spring Branch East, Texas City, Tomball, The Memorial Villages, Westchase.
Do you make house calls or hospital visits?
What kind of cases do you accept?
We are very selective in the cases that we agree to handle to provide the best possible service to our clients. By limiting the number of cases that we accept, we can provide the time attention, and resources required to maximize compensation for our clients.
Accordingly, our practice is limited to cases involving substantial injury or a family who has lost a loved one. We have gained a reputation for handling 18-wheeler truck accidents, car and drunk driving crashes, daycare injury cases, and other serious injury and wrongful death matters. To learn more about the cases we cover, visit our practice areas page.
Do I have to pay money out of my pocket to hire you?
Do you handle all types of personal injury cases?
No, we are very selective in the cases that we agree to accept. We intentionally limit the number of cases that we handle and the practice areas for the cases we take to provide the best possible personal service for our clients. To learn more about the cases we cover, visit our practice areas page or you can contact us for individual consultation about your case. (281) 587-1111.
What is the best way to contact you?
We prefer to be contacted by telephone and also respond to our online consultation requests. You can call us 24/7 at (281) 587-1111. We offer Zoom consultations as well.
How successful have you been with your cases?
We are a personal injury law firm with over three decades of experience and are extremely proud of our winning track record of success. Our founder is nationally recognized as among the best personal injury lawyers in the USA. We are undefeated in truck accident cases, wrongful death cases, and daycare negligence and invite you to check out our results page for recent results in cases we won.
For the last 35 years, we have concentrated on maximizing our client’s compensation in serious injury and wrongful death cases. If you are looking for the best personal injury lawyers in Houston – Call us! (281) 587-1111.
Thank you
for a job well done!
"I can never express how grateful me and my family are to Greg Baumgartner and his team of truck accident lawyers in Houston. He took care of our injury case and got us a great settlement. Thank you for a job well done!"
- R. G. Client
Houston Personal Injury Victim
Highly
Recommended!
"I was hit in the rear by an 18 wheeler and was lucky enough to have found Greg – I was overjoyed with the results and highly recommend him."
- Raymond
Houston Personal Injury Victim