Can I Sue a Bar That Over Served a Drunk Driver in Texas?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 11,000 people are killed each year due to drunk driving. Drunk driving accidents can devastate families, and there’s no way to make up for the lives that are lost. 

However, there are laws in place that give those harmed by intoxicated drivers the right to sue a bar if they over-served the responsible party. 

If you’ve been harmed due to a bar over-serving a patron, the dedicated Houston car accident attorney of Lapeze & Johns, PLLC, can help you hold that bar accountable.

Texas Dram Shop Law regulates the sale of alcohol to already intoxicated individuals or individuals. According to the law , businesses can be held legally responsible for selling alcohol to individuals who are “obviously intoxicated” and who go on to cause damages. This means that Texans who suffer damages at the hands of an intoxicated person may be able to sue the bar who served that person alcohol.

It’s worth noting that, under Texas Dram Shop Laws, liability for the damages caused by an over-served bar patron may be split between the bar and the patron depending on the specifics of the case. 

Due to the complexity of determining this liability, we recommend speaking to a Houston car accident attorney if you are considering pursuing compensation through Dram Shop liability.

Drunk driving accidents have a widespread impact on communities, so it should be no surprise that there are many different parties who may be able to sue a bar if their selling of alcohol caused an accident. 

In general, anyone who can prove they suffered damages due to a bar’s service can sue that bar, and that even includes the drunk drivers.

Those who can sue can be categorized into two groups: first- and third-party claimants.

Many dram shop cases are brought by those overserved by bars. These suits are called first-party dram shop cases and can be brought by individuals who were injured due to their own intoxication. If a person is intoxicated past the point of knowing that they should stop drinking or not drive, the bar that served them could be held responsible if they hurt themselves or others.

Over serving intoxicated individuals can lead to serious accidents. Thankfully, under Texas law, anyone who is injured or suffers a loss due to an intoxicated person’s actions can sue the bar that over-served them. This is called a third-party dram shop case. These cases can also be filed by the families of those who suffered a wrongful death caused by an intoxicated individual. 

According to the Texas Department of Transportation , a quarter of all motor vehicle fatalities involved drivers who were under the influence of alcohol in 2019. Families who have suffered the loss of a loved one as the result of a drunk driver may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the bar that over-served the responsible party. 

There are only three groups who can file such a claim under Dram Shop Laws in Texas:

Texas Social Host Law protects Texans’ right to serve alcohol to guests in their own homes, even if the guest is already “obviously intoxicated.” However, there is one exception.

Texans can sue hosts for damages caused by an intoxicated person under the age of 18. Anyone over the age of 21, except the minor’s parents or guardians, may be held liable for the damages caused by that intoxicated minor if they provided the alcohol. 

The same parties who can sue under Dram Law may be able to sue under Social Host Law.

If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, even if that driver was served at a bar, it may be difficult to hold the bar responsible. There are three different factors that must be proven in order for a bar to be held liable for the actions of a patron under Texas law.

After a drunk driving accident, injured individuals may be able to sue responsible parties  — a bar in this case — for compensation. Depending on the responsible party’s level of culpability, compensation may cover all losses and costs associated with the accident. 

Compensation comes in two forms: economic and non-economic. 

We generally accept that drinking and driving is unsafe, and that drinking comes with a certain level of responsibility. However, the sale of alcohol should also be taken seriously, and bars should be held responsible if they over-serve a patron who causes an accident. 

Can I Sue a Bar That Over Served a Drunk Driver in Texas?

Lapeze & Johns