October 29, 2014

Pennsylvania dram shop liability laws When someone drinks alcohol, it’s a personal choice they’re making, which is why many feel like it is unfair that bar owners can be held liable for drunk driving accidents that take place because someone was irresponsible and chose to get drunk at the owner’s bar. Under the terms of Pennsylvania dram shop laws, bar…

October 24, 2014

Bars and restaurants may be held liable for over-service Pennsylvania Dram Shop statutes define the scope of liability for the owner/operator of a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol in the event that an injury is suffered by someone as a result of over-serving a customer. An entity may not be held liable for injuries suffered by a third party…

August 29, 2014

Pittsburgh ranks near the bottom of report on safe driving Allstate released the company’s annual report that ranks the 200 largest cities in the U.S. for driver safety on August 26, and Pittsburgh ranked at 187 on list, which means the city fared worse than the previous year for the sixth time in a row. Allstate estimates that it issues…

August 18, 2014

Dram shop liability in Pennsylvania When someone is injured in Pennsylvania by a drunk driver or someone else who is intoxicated, the victim and family may not realize that the person who provided the alcohol could be liable for the damages as well. Laws that allow people to hold a bar or restaurant responsible for an intoxicated customer’s actions are…

April 16, 2014

Pennsylvania resort owners sued after fatal drunk driving crash A Pennsylvania couple has filed a lawsuit against the parents of a teen who hit a tree while driving drunk after leaving a party, fatally injuring their son. Because the parents of the teenage driver owned the resort where the party was held, there is a premises liability issue in this…

April 3, 2014

Can valets face liability under dram shop laws? (2 of 2) Welcome back. Last week, we began discussing an interesting legal topic involving Pennsylvania’s dram shop laws. As you have probably heard, bar owners and even party hosts can be held liable under the state’s dram shop laws for over-serving patrons or guests who go on to cause drunk driving…

March 26, 2014

Can valets face liability under dram shop laws? (1 of 2) The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently highlighted an important legal issue regarding Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Law. Under the law, bartenders and bar owners can be held liable for over-serving patrons who leave the establishments and cause drunk driving accidents. But what about restaurant and bar valet workers who hand car keys…

February 14, 2014

Two charged for over-serving man hit, killed crossing street In Pittsburgh, if a person has been injured or a loved one killed by a drunk driver, the accountability doesn’t always fall solely on the driver of the vehicle who caused the injury. Sometimes the person or establishment that contributed to the intoxication of the driver can also be held accountable.…

January 3, 2014

DUI accident victim blames bars and wins case Drunk driving in Pennsylvania is serious business. The number of deaths from DUI is astonishing and just holding drunk drivers accountable is not always enough. Those serving alcohol to an already-inebriated individual can also be held accountable for over-serving a customer. A 2010 accident by a drunk driver cost two northeastern Pennsylvania…

December 13, 2013

Holiday parties and alcohol: An unsafe mix that will happen It’s hard to come by solid estimates about how many drivers, at any given time, are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Suffice it to say, they are out there. And Pennsylvania authorities know that there are certain days of the week, and certain times of the day,…