Milwaukee Personal Injury Lawyer

If someone hosts a party during which alcohol was served, are they responsible for the actions of their guests after they leave the party? A Milwaukee personal injury lawyer from Hickey & Turim, S.C. can answer this question for you if you were injured by an underaged drunk driver. The legal concepts behind ‘social host liability’ do not apply in all states under all circumstances, so it’s important to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer in Milwaukee. Call Hickey & Turim, S.C. to discuss your case with one of our attorneys to learn how we might be able to assist you in recovering your injury related damages.

Social Host Liability

Social host liability holds that under certain circumstances, if an underaged guest leaves a party intoxicated and causes a motor vehicle accident which injures another party, the host may share liability if they provided alcohol to that driver. In a social host liability case, the host might be held partly responsible for their negligence or recklessness if they intentionally served alcohol to a minor. A Milwaukee personal injury lawyer from Hickey & Turim, S.C. can determine if the party host might be held liable along with the driver. We have the experience necessary to pursue maximum compensation for our clients in multi-party civil lawsuits.

Was the Host Guilty of Recklessness?

In proving liability on the part of the party host, your Milwaukee personal injury lawyer must establish the following:

• The host served alcohol to a minor.
• The minor left the premises in an intoxicated state.
• The minor drove a vehicle while intoxicated.
• The minor caused an accident that involved you.
• You were seriously injured as a result.
• Your injury has quantifiable damages such as medical treatment costs, the inability to earn an income during your recovery period, pain and suffering, etc.

Was the Conduct of the Host Intentional?

In many states, the social host liability mandates that the host had knowledge of the situation and intentionally acted recklessly. Your Milwaukee personal injury lawyer can explain in further detail but if the host can reasonably prove that they did not know that the guest was a minor, they might not be held liable for your injury. In addition, if the host can prove they did not know the minor was intoxicated, or they themselves did not serve the minor, it may be difficult to establish their liability for your injury.

Consult a Trusted Milwaukee Personal Injury Lawyer

The laws surrounding drunk or impaired driving are complex. When combined with personal injury law, it can be challenging to find justice in the aftermath of a debilitating motor vehicle accident. Allow a seasoned lawyer to review your case and determine if we might be able to help you pursue an injury claim or lawsuit to recover your damages. Contact Hickey & Turim, S.C. today for a complimentary consultation with a Milwaukee personal injury lawyer who can review the circumstances of your injury and provide guidance to help you move forward.