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Salt Lake City Dram Shop Lawyers

Are you the victim of a drunk driver? Call The Advocates law firm for a free case evaluation.

Two Attorneys walk down a hallway

A Dram Shop Attorney Can Help Your Case 

Fault for a drunk driving accident can go beyond the driver. Utah has dram shop laws that allow you to file a liability claim against whoever overserved alcohol to the drunk driver.  

This ensures that responsible parties are held accountable. Our personal injury lawyers are well-versed in this practice area.   

With an Advocate on your side, you can assured that your injury claim is in expert hands.   

We promise to guide you through the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and work to get compensation for the damages inflicted on you. Call us today for a free consultation. 

The Next Steps in Your Utah Dram Shop Case

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Property Damage

Get the damage on your car assessed and fixed

Treatment

Seek medical treatment as soon as you can

Finish Treatment

Once you’ve completed treatment, your attorney will compile your medical records

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate. 

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees. 

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We don’t get paid unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement. 

For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page. 

Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex. 

Your attorney will gather evidence, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own. 

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability. 

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more. 

In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action. 

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin. 

In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator. 

A Team of Dram Shop Professionals Assigned to Your Case  

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive fair compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.  

We can help you: 

  • Understand the claims process 
  • Investigate your accident 
  • Work together with you towards a full resolution of your injuries 
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters 
  • Obtain a settlement or judgment against the at fault party 

Talking to a Professional

Talk to a professional

When Should I Hire a Salt Lake City Dram Shop Attorney? 

You deserve maximum compensation in your accident case. DUI accidents are some of the worst. It is only right that those who contributed to your pain and suffering are held accountable.   The Advocates are skilled attorneys who will help you identify all responsible parties, gather evidence, and fight for the full compensation you need for medical expenses, lost income, and emotional trauma.  It has been our pleasure to serve Utah for decades. We love this state and the people in it. Allow us to provide you with legal advice and representation.  You deserve it. You deserve an Advocate. 

Dram Shop Liability in Utah 

What is dram shop law? 

Utah law 32B‑15‑201 is the Alcoholic Product Liability Act. It establishes when a commercial alcohol vendor can be held civilly liable for harm caused by intoxicated patrons. 

It applies to restaurants, clubs, concert venues, bars—anyone commercially selling alcohol. Off-premises alcohol retailers like grocery stores are excluded.  

When these establishments can be held responsible 

If an establishment directly provides alcohol that causes intoxication, then injury or death to a third party occurs, they can be held responsible. These are the circumstances where dram shop laws apply:  

  • Underage minors (younger than 21)  
  • A known interdicted person (someone legally barred from consuming alcohol)  
  • A visibly intoxicated person  
  • Someone the provider knew or should have known was intoxicated 

Prima facie conditions 

Prima facie is the minimum set of facts a plaintiff must prove to establish a liability claim.  

A plaintiff must show: 

  • The incident occurred within 50 miles of the premises. 
  • The recipient was visibly intoxicated. 
  • The establishment served the last alcoholic drink consumed before the injury or death. 
  • The intoxicated person committed a DUI-related offense or a post-incident blood alcohol content test above .05% if the person died. 

Dram Shop and Personal Injury Laws 

Common dram shop accident injuries    

The main reason you will have a dram shop claim is because you suffered serious injuries. Even if an injury appears harmless, you should still get medical attention after an accident.  

Here are the most common injuries inflicted on accident victims:  

  • Bruising and lacerations   
  • Muscle strains   
  • Whiplash   
  • Broken teeth   
  • Dislocated joints   
  • Disfigurement  
  • Broken bones   
  • Internal damage   
  • Spinal cord injuries   
  • Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries   
  • Emotional distress 
  • Wrongful death of a loved one 

Statute of limitations for dram shop cases 

You have two years to file a dram shop case. This is shorter than the usual four-year timeframe for other personal injuries. 

The damages you can sue for in a dram shop claim 

The damages you can seek depend on the nature of your claim. No two cases are ever the same in law, which means even an experienced lawyer cannot predict the trajectory without first doing a case evaluation.    

The following are commonly sought damages in a personal injury case:    

  • Medical bills 
  • Pain and suffering  
  • Lost wages and loss of future earnings   
  • Non-economic damages such as emotional trauma   
  • Funeral expenses for a family member 

You cannot seek punitive damages, such as jail time, for the responsible party. That would happen in a criminal case pursued by a prosecutor.

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