Dram Shop Liability

Experienced Legal Team for Dram Shop Liability

Our legal team has a strong track record of successfully prosecuting and winning complex dram shop liability cases. We combine deep knowledge of the law with practical experience to deliver results that protect our clients and preserve what they’ve worked hard to build.

Common Types of Dram Shop Claims:

• Serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons
• Providing alcohol to minors
• Over-serving customers who later cause drunk-driving accidents
• Failure to cut off intoxicated individuals
• Injuries caused by the negligence of a visibly intoxicated, overserved patron

Common Dram Shop Liability Injuries:

• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Back injuries (herniated or bulging discs)
• Broken bones and fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries (concussions, TBIs)
• Internal bleeding or organ damage
• Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
• Catastrophic injury and Wrongful Death
• Psychological trauma
• Emotional distress
• PTSD
• Depression and Anxiety
• Internal injuries, including bleeding, bruising and organ damage
• Nerve damage
• Tendon injuries
• Concussion
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Fractures/broken bones
• Sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries

Our legal team has a strong track record of successfully defending businesses in complex dram shop liability cases. We combine deep knowledge of the law with practical experience to deliver results that protect our clients and preserve what they’ve worked hard to build.

Below, we’ll outline the key aspects of dram shop liability, highlight common challenges, and explain the defense strategies we use to help our clients navigate these high-stakes claims.

Understanding Dram Shop Liability

Dram shop liability is a complex and high-stakes area of law that holds alcohol-serving establishments legally responsible for the actions of intoxicated patrons. At Flager Law, we have the knowledge and experience necessary to guide businesses through these challenging claims. With offices in Trevose, New Hope, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, our team is well-positioned to defend bars, restaurants, venues, and other establishments when allegations of liquor liability arise.

Dram shop claims can stem from several legal theories. One of the most common is over-service of alcohol—a situation in which an establishment continues to serve a visibly intoxicated individual. If that individual later causes harm to themselves or others, the business may face liability for contributing to the incident through negligent service.

Another frequent allegation involves alcohol sales to minors. In these cases, plaintiffs claim that the establishment failed to verify age through proper identification checks and either knowingly or negligently served alcohol to an underage individual. Such actions—or failures to act—can expose a business to significant legal consequences under state liquor laws.

Inadequate training is also a common basis for dram shop liability. Plaintiffs may argue that employees were not properly trained to recognize the signs of intoxication or to identify underage patrons. A lack of formal alcohol service training programs can be used against the establishment as a contributing factor in incidents involving injury or harm.

Negligent security claims arise when an intoxicated patron becomes violent or disruptive, and it is alleged that on-site security failed to intervene appropriately. These cases may also involve situations where security personnel use excessive force while handling or removing intoxicated individuals, leading to further injury and liability for the establishment.

Businesses may also face claims based on violations of liquor laws, such as serving alcohol after legal hours, continuing service to visibly intoxicated patrons, or failing to maintain proper licenses. These statutory violations can support or strengthen dram shop claims and may result in both civil and regulatory penalties.

In some jurisdictions, social host liability adds another layer of complexity. This applies to individuals who serve alcohol in private settings. Depending on the state, a social host can be held liable if they serve alcohol to a guest—especially a minor—who then causes injury or damage. While some states limit social host liability to cases involving minors, others extend it to any intoxicated guest, regardless of age.

At Flager Law, we understand that a dram shop claim can threaten not only your bottom line but also your business’s hard-earned reputation. Our team provides strategic, knowledgeable defense to help clients navigate these difficult situations and protect what matters most.