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Dram Shop Attorneys
in Dallas-Fort Worth
CASES WON
SUCCESS RATE
30+ YEARS
EXPERIENCE
YOU WIN OR PAY NOTHING
PROVEN RESULTS
$13 MILLION
TOTAL RECOVERED
Car Accident
Fatality
$1.8 MILLION
TOTAL RECOVERED
Truck Accident
Spinal Injury
$9.5 MILLION
TOTAL RECOVERED
Defective Product
Brain Injury
$6.5 MILLION
TOTAL RECOVERED
Workplace Accident
Head Injury
$10.75 MILLION
TOTAL RECOVERED
Motorcycle Wreck
Head Injury
$864,000
TOTAL RECOVERED
Truck Accident
Spinal Injury
Dram Shop Accident Laws
A former bartender was arrested in 2023 for her involvement in a fatal drunk driving crash that killed an off-duty Euless, TX officer and left his wife in a coma for a month and children with injuries. This incident has caught media attention due to a video showing the driver fleeing the scene and being stopped by a bystander. However, the question arises why other drunk driving crashes that claim lives and cause injuries don’t end with criminal prosecution of the bartender and civil lawsuits against the bar. Most drunk driving cases do not make headlines, and bartenders rarely get arrested.
This raises the concern of whether the same attention would be given if an officer and his family were not involved. While some cases may lack evidence, many can be traced back to over-serving. Social media posts and videos can often be used as evidence to charge the bartender. The burden of pushing for a thorough investigation and criminal prosecution falls on the victims and their families in most cases.
In the case of Detective Cervantes, Jr. and his family, justice is being served. However, more can be done to prevent drunk driving by holding those responsible accountable and compensating victims for their losses. This case should serve as a example for future situations where catastrophic and fatal drunk driving cases that arise due to the negligence of bars, nightclubs and restaurants and their servers or bartenders over-serve customers who are clearly intoxicated and could pose a threat to others on the road.
Can a Bar or Restaurant Be Sued for Over-Serving Patrons?
The legal area that covers the over-serving of alcohol is based on what are called dram shop laws. Many states have such laws, but they are rarely used as causes of action in court cases and hardly ever lead to criminal prosecutions, when they actually could. Most people are not aware of this legal topic and the ramifications that it involves when a lawsuit is filed on such grounds. Texas has its own dram shop laws. And, these laws protect people in the state of Texas if they should become victims of a drunk or intoxicated driver who was over-served at a liable establishment that serves alcoholic beverages to its patrons.
Hundreds of businesses fall within the definition of a “dram shop.” Dram shop is an old English term used to refer to an establishment where alcohol is sold, served and consumed. Today this might include clubs, bars, pubs, beer gardens, restaurants and other such venues. A dram is a measurement that was once commonly used in the dispensation of alcohol. “Dram shop” businesses can face a number of legal liabilities when the selling and serving of alcohol is part of the operation. Texas dram shop laws are designed and written to protect against the overselling or overconsumption of alcohol served to patrons.
What Dram Shop Laws are there in Texas?
The Texas Supreme Court decision in the precedential El Chico v. Poole (1987) case, created a cause of action for those hurt in drunk driving accidents and other accidents so that victims could seek remedy from the establishment or provider of alcohol that served the intoxicated party.
El Chico v. Poole established that bars, nightclubs, and restaurants could be sued. However, at the time there was no criteria for the liability of alcohol serving establishments. So the Texas Legislature responded by enacting the Texas Dram Shop Act, which had two main purposes:
1. it defined the terms of what an establishment is potentially liable for, hence when it can and when it can’t be sued.
2. it made a dram shop cause of action the exclusive remedy against bars and other establishments and this nullified the landmark El Chico v. Poole Texas Supreme Court decision.
The Texas Legislature enacted the Texas Dram Shop Act to protect against involvement of the criminal component in the trafficking of alcohol. For those who provide alcoholic beverages the Act is also an exclusive remedy in terms of civil liability for the actions of an establishment’s employees, customers, members, or guests who are or become intoxicated. Proof of civil liability against a provider of alcoholic beverages is required. Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Ann. §2.01 a person who is licensed to sell or serve alcohol in Texas (a “provider”) can be liable for damages if it was clear that the individual being served alcohol was intoxicated to to the degree that he presented a danger to himself and others. Evidence must be provided to the effect that when a patron or guest was sold, provided, or served alcoholic beverages, that the person was clearly and dangerously intoxicated and that the inebriation of the recipient of the alcohol was a proximate cause of the injuries, losses, and other damages suffered due to the actions of this person.
What Are Some Key Elements of Dram Shop Laws?
1. Texas Dram Shop Act and Exclusive Remedy
Dram shop lawsuits are the sole way or exclusive remedy for victims of over-serving of alcoholic beverages to recover damages for their losses and injuries. As far as injuries related to alcohol provision, this is only law that can be used as a cause of action. Other causes of action such as gross negligence and unsafe property liability claims are not applicable to a case where dram shop laws are involved or overservice of alcohol is the basis for a lawsuit.
2. The Actions of the Intoxicated Guest or Patron Under Texas Law
In Texas courts a jury is able to consider the actions of the intoxicated person to determine liability in dram shop accident cases. The business should add the at-fault intoxicated guest or patron to the lawsuit either as a responsible third-party or a defendant defendant. The fact-finder is then tasked with calculating and assigning the percentages of liability for damages and/or injuries caused as a result of the actions of the intoxicated person.
3. The Safe Harbor Defense
The Safe Harbor Defense offers protection for alcohol serving establishments. To be shielded from liability under the Safe Harbor Defense in Texas courts, the following three criteria must be met:
a. the establishment or employer has a requirement that its employees attend a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) approved training program for sellers;
b. there is proof that the employee actually attended a TABC approved training program; and
c. the establishment or employer did not indirectly or directly encourage the employee, bartender or server to violate the laws regarding over-serving or distribution of alcoholic beverages.
For a business to gain safe harbor or protection from civil liabilities relating to over-serving of alcohol under Texas state law, the defendant establishments involved in a dram shop lawsuit is required to prove that the employees involved attended a TABC-approved seller training class.
4. Selling Alcohol to Minors: Liability in Texas
In Texas the legal drinking age is 21. The Texas Dram Shop Act defines a “minor” as anyone under the age of 21, despite the fact that in most cases under other laws 18 years of age is considered to be the legal age of adulthood. When a seller distributes alcohol to a minor that seller is subject to liability and the repercussions under the law, unless the minor presents a seemingly valid identification that falsely represents the minor buyer as being 21 years old or older.
Can Individuals be Sued Under Texas Dram Shop Laws?
The Section 2.01 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code contains a provision, often referred to as the “social host liability”:
(1) “Provider” means a person who sells or serves an alcoholic beverage under authority of a license or permit issued under the terms of this code or who otherwise sells an alcoholic beverage to an individual.
To meet the definition of being an alcohol “provider” the alcohol has to be sold. This would exclude “social hosts,” or people who have guests or had parties in their homes. Unless these social host charge for the alcohol server to their guests in some manner, the law does not apply to these hosts.
To sue a responsible party, they do not have to be operating under the authority of a license or permit. The key part of the definition in such cases is that the responsible party sold alcohol in some manner directly or indirectly.
There is an exception to the protections that social hosts have when serving alcohol, and it relates to minors.
How Does the Texas Dram Shop Act Apply to Minors?
Though Section 2.01 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code limits “social host liability,” the social host liability law (Section 2.02) states that providers of alcohol can be held liable for accidents and the related damages or losses caused by an intoxicated minor if:
- the minor is under the age of 18 years old
- the provider of the alcohol is not the minor’s parent, custodian, or spouse; and
- the alcohol provider knowingly a) served the minor alcohol that contributed to the minor’s intoxication or b) allowed the minor to be provided with alcohol that contributed to the minor’s intoxication and did so on the provider’s premises.
For example, 16-year-old Leslie attends a neighbor’s birthday party in his apartment complex. Leslie takes a few alcoholic beverages from the cooler that James has provided for guests. James is aware that Leslie is consuming alcohol from the cooler and chooses to ignore this. Leslie leaves the birthday party intoxicated to drive to meet another friend, and she mistakenly runs through a red light and hits a person on a bicycle (Paul), injuring him severely. Paul can pursue a claim for damages against Leslie for causing the collision and James for knowingly serving alcohol to a minor at his apartment.
Any exception that defendants might have in other dram shop cases that do not involve a minor are not permitted or allowed for adults who serve minors when those minors do damage to themselves or others.
This includes:
1. the exception of being a “social host” and not selling alcohol
2. the Safe Harbor Defense
3. and the requirement that the minor was “obviously intoxicated”.
How Can Our Dram Shop Lawyers Help You?
The attorneys at Tate Law Offices are dedicated to seeking an optimal recovery for you and your loved ones in a Texas dram shop accident claim.
We will thoroughly investigate your case and consult with experts to arrive at a just amount that should be sought in your case.
While the amount that can be recovered in a dram shop case will depend on the facts and issues involved, a claim typically would seek recovery of:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished future income
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Physical Impairment
- Pain and suffering
- All other related expenses.
These damages are known as “compensatory” damages. They are aimed at making you “whole” after an accident caused by another. In a dram accident case.
The legal team at Tate Law Offices is here to help you navigate a potential dram shop case if you or a loved one has been injured or has suffered death due to the negligence of a drunk driver. Our dram shop lawyers investigate all drunk driving accident cases for our victims to understand the circumstances that led to the accident. If a bar, restaurant, nightclub or other establishment was involved, we will quickly start gather evidence for these circumstances or another others that are present in your case. Our attorneys have helped numerous victims of drunk driving accidents, and we have won high-dollar settlements against drunk drivers and alcohol-serving establishments.
Dram shop cases are complicated legal matters that take time to investigate and bring before a jury if necessary. The sooner you enlist a Texas lawyer with expertise in dram shop law, the better your chances of getting a fair recovery for your losses. Given the available exceptions available to dram shops, these cases are difficult to prove and therefore time is a critical factor in winning jury awarded compensation or receiving a settlement through negotiation. These cases are also multipronged cases in many situations involving the need for investigation and discovery both criminal and civil actions.
If you feel you might have a dram shop case or any other claims against liable parties after being injured in a DUI, DWI or drunk driving accident, please do not hesitate to contact us right away by calling or texting (972)499-4813 or use the chat or contact forms on our site to reach out to us about your case. We are here 24/7 to learn about your accident. And, we have the experience you need to make the most of your case.
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Featured FAQ
WHAT IF I’M THE VICTIM OF A HIT AND RUN CAR ACCIDENT?
If you are hit by a car and the driver leaves the accident scene you should try to get the driver’s license plate and call it in to the police immediately, if you are able. Even if you cannot get the license plate you should call the wreck in to the police and call your lawyer. If you or the car you were riding in has uninsured motorist coverage you may be able to assert a claim under that coverage if the other driver cannot be located. Your own insurance company will take an adversarial position to your claim so do not file the claim or give them a recorded statement without your attorney.
SHOULD I USE MY PERSONAL HEALTH INSURANCE TO COVER MEDICAL COSTS?
This is certainly one option, but it may not be the best, depending on what coverage exists in other policies. The personal injury attorneys at Tate Law Offices, P.C., will help you make the best decision in regard to where to file your claims and seek coverage.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE UNTIL MY PERSONAL INJURY CASE IS FINISHED?
This depends on how long it takes for you to recover from your injury. You need to heal from your injury or at least be in a position where the doctors can render a good opinion regarding your injury. The harm you incurred must be able to be measured. After you have recovered we can many times have your case settled within 60 days if a lawsuit is not required or 12 months if a lawsuit is required. We typically only recommend a lawsuit if the insurance company is not offering to pay a fair value and we believe that litigation will add additional money to your settlement.
MAY I TALK TO TATE LAW OFFICES ABOUT MY CASE FREE OF CHARGE?
Yes. We will evaluate your injury case for free and give you our best advice regarding how we believe your case should be handled.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR TATE LAW OFFICES TO EVALUATE MY PERSONAL INJURY CASE?
We have a free consultation where we evaluate injury cases at no charge to accident victim.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT TATE LAW OFFICES REGARDING A PERSONAL INJURY CASE?
If you wish to speak to someone immediately regarding a personal injury case, it is best to give us a phone call at 888-769-1092. Other options include using our online chat or email form on our website at www.tatelawoffices.com. We are available 24/7 by phone, email or chat. Our offices hour are Monday – Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Standard Time.
Legally Reviewed By
Tim Tate, of Tate Law Offices, PC, has represented victims of injuries day-in and day-out throughout the state of Texas as well as in numerous other states throughout America over the last two decades. In addition to being licensed as an Attorney at Law by the Supreme Court of Texas, Tim is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice, both of which advocate and advance the rights of injured victims against insurance companies.
