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Dram Shop Liability Lawyer NYC

Hit by a Drunk Driver in New York City? Proner & Proner Can Help You Get Compensation

The drunk driving accident lawyers of the New York City law firm of Proner & Proner have a thorough knowledge of dram shop liability laws and use this knowledge to the advantage of their clients. Dram shop liability laws were enacted to hold bars and taverns accountable when extremely intoxicated patrons get behind the wheel and end up killing or severely injuring others. While these laws are controversial, dram shop liability legislation is intended to cut down on the number of drunk drivers on our nation’s roadways. If bar owners or bartenders know that they can be penalized for allowing someone who is clearly too drunk to drive to get behind the wheel of a car, they will be more likely to act conscionably in dealing with such patrons.

Arguments for personal accountability pale when one considers that inebriated individuals often fail to behave or think rationally. Given this, it is in the best interests of those who supply alcohol to be aware of how their product is affecting customers and do what they can to keep them and others out of harm’s way.

The New York City drunk driving accident lawyers of Proner & Proner understand how dram shop liability laws work and can help those who have lost a family member to a drunk driving crash in NYC. Contact us today.

What Are Dram Shop Liability Laws?

The term “dram,” coined in the 17th century, refers to a liquid measurement equivalent to a spoon or thimble full of liquor. Given that lawsuits filed against businesses or social establishments are based on the amount of alcohol provided to their patrons, “dram shop liability” was adopted as the name to describe this area of law.

Dram shop liability laws vary from state to state and may involve the doctrine of comparative negligence with regard to the accident itself. Under these laws, people may also be held accountable for selling alcohol to minors who are later involved in a motor vehicle accident or who are killed due to alcohol consumption. Because dram shop liability is a highly complex area of law, it pays to hire drunk driving accident lawyers who understand the wide-ranging implications of such claims.

NYC Dram Shop Laws and Comparative Negligence

In some states, more than one alcoholic vendor can be held accountable for the impairment of an individual who injured or killed someone else in a drunk driving accident. This is where dram shop liability and comparative negligence often meet up.

The following is a good example of a situation in which this would be the case. Imagine that someone participates in a bar crawl that involves five night spots. If this person is later involved in a drunk driving accident that kills a family, any or all participating pubs and taverns could be held partly responsible for the wrongful deaths, along with the driver of the automobile. This may include even the first bar visited prior to the individual’s intoxication.

Again, these laws are controversial, but they do aid in making businesses look out for more than their bottom lines when serving up drinks.

Contact Our Manhattan NY Dram Shop Liability Lawyers

With so many complexities, dram shop liability laws can be confusing. If you or someone you care about has been harmed in a drunk driving accident in NYC, it is important that you entrust your case to experienced personal injury and drunk driving accident lawyers, such as those at our New York City law firm of Proner & Proner. Contact Proner & Proner today for your free case evaluation.

Practice Areas

Motor Vehicle Accidents Verdicts & Settlements

Proner & Proner’s experienced car accident attorneys win big verdicts and settlements for seriously injured clients. In some cases, clients have won millions of dollars in compensation. Some of our major cases are listed below.

$5,100,00.00
Female, 43: Cyclist hit by truck
Our client was riding her bicycle when a truck was turning and came up onto the sidewalk. Our client went to back up and the truck struck her.
Injuries: Catastrophic injuries to entire right side of body below the waist resulting in amputation of the right leg and hind quarter; bladder rupture; multiple rib and spinal fractures
$4,300,000.00
Male, 63: Pedestrian hit by bus
Our client was crossing a street when a bus hit a car and the car spun and hit him.
Injuries: Traumatic brain injury; fractured shoulder
$3,300,000.00
Male: Pedestrian hit by vehicle
Our client was struck as a pedestrian by a taxicab that was involved in an accident with a bus.
Injuries: Stroke, with quality of life after the accident greatly diminished
$2,600,000.00
Female, 45: Pedestrian hit by vehicle
Crossing the street, our client was run over by a truck.
Injuries: Fractured skull and fractured right ankle, requiring surgery to head and leg
$2,600,000.00
Female, 49: Cyclist hit by truck
Our client was riding her bicycle when a truck was turning and came up onto the sidewalk - our client went to back up and the truck struck her.
Injuries: Cognitive deficiencies, behavioral changes, permanent disability
$1,500,000.00
Male, 38: Wrongful death
A man pulled over on the roadway to assist another vehicle in distress, and a tractor trailer struck him and his parked vehicle, resulting in his death.
Injuries: Wrongful death
$1,165,000.00
Female, 17: Vehicle collision
Our client was in a car driven by her sister that skidded on ice into oncoming traffic.
Injuries: Broken hip and a ruptured diaphragm
$1,100,000.00
Female, Female: Vehicle collided with guardrail
Two clients were injured in an accident that took place in 2003 when they were passengers in a car that hit a guardrail.
Injuries: The clients each sustained a broken wrist
$825,000.00
Female, 45: Pedestrian hit by vehicle
Our client was a pedestrian hit by a left turning vehicle.
Injuries: Soft tissue injuries to neck, back and shoulder which required three surgeries
$800,000.00
Multiple Clients: Vehicle collision
Intersection accident with a van transporting handicapped adults.
Injuries: Broken ankle, closed head injury
$550,000.00
Female, 32: Vehicle collision
While making a left hand turn, our client was struck by another vehicle.
Injuries: Broken right wrist, three compound fractures on right ulna requiring surgery, mild traumatic brain injury
$550,000.00
Female, 21: Pedestrian hit by vehicle
Our client was hit by car while on her way to work by a vehicle making a left hand turn.
Injuries: Comminuted left tibia and fibula fractures that required surgery
$371,275.00
Male, 47: Pedestrian hit by vehicle
Our client was struck by a car while making a left hand turn.
Injuries: Broken pelvis, fractured sacrum
$350,000.00
Male, 31: Pedestrian hit by vehicle
Defendant made illegal U-turn and struck our client.
Injuries: Dislocated shoulder; injury to iliotibial band and lateral aspect of the right knee
$325,000.00
Female, 42: Pedestrian hit by vehicle
Our client was hit by a car while crossing the street.
Injuries: Blood clots in abdomen, two broken ribs, compression fractures of spine
$300,000.00
Male: Vehicle collision
Our client was riding a scooter and was hit by a flat-bed tow truck.
$290,000.00
Male, 37: Vehicle collision
A traffic light was turning green for our client, when a woman ran full speed against the light and hit our client.
Injuries: Left ankle fracture which required open reduction and internal fixation. Fractured and broken nose
$270,000.00
Female, 55: Wrongful death
Our client’s husband was killed when a car drove into the driver’s side of the vehicle. Wrongful death.
$250,000.00
Male, 61 - Female, 62: Vehicle collision
Accident caused by police chase.
Injuries: Our client died as a result of her injuries, which included multiple fractures and massive bilateral extensive pulmonary with significant right ventricular strain.

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Mitchell Proner is an amazing and very experienced trial lawyer, who takes care of his clients. He represented me in a car accident case, kept me very informed during the lengthy legal process and got me the settlement that I expected. His friendly office staff was always willing to assist and answer any questions I had. I recommend Mitchell Proner to all my friends and family!

Besides being well versed and very knowledgeable about all aspects of my case it was simply a pleasure dealing with Mr. Proner and his colleagues at Proner and Proner. In a time of hardship Mr. Proner and the staff at Proner and Proner made it very easy for us to cope with all of the legal processes which we are not accustom to. I couldn't recommend a better group of people let alone an attorney as Mitchell Proner and the staff at Proner and Proner. Thank you again for all of your assistance.

Awesome experience, excellent service, very professional and fast resolving my case. My number one attorney - definitely recommended more than once. Thank you!