If you were injured as a result of a negligent vendor or social host, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Do not wait to reach out to our skilled Essex County personal injury attorneys today to discuss the details of your case and your options. Our legal team is prepared to get you the compensation you need to heal.
What are New Jersey’s social host liability laws?
In the state of New Jersey, social host liability laws are put in place to permit an injured person from seeking damages from any social host who supplied alcohol to an intoxicated person of lawful drinking age at a party or similar event when that guest goes on to cause an alcohol-related accident. In order to have a successful claim, the injured party typically must show:
- the person who caused the injuries was visibly intoxicated in the presence of the host, or
- the situations created an “unreasonable risk” of harm to life or property, and
- the injury resulted from a motor vehicle accident caused by the intoxicated person who was served by the social host.
New Jersey law states that if a social host carelessly serves a minor who then causes harm to someone else, the injured party may have a possible claim against the social host for negligence.
Can I obtain compensation for my injuries?
With compensation, liability in dram shop and social host cases is defined solely in terms of money damages, paid by the defendant or the defendant’s insurer to the injured person. The most common types of damages in these cases include:
- Medical and hospital bills
- Bills for rehabilitation or therapy
- Lost wages
- The value of household services and childcare the injured person would otherwise have performed
property damage - Pain and suffering
You will also want to take note of the fact that the state of New Jersey also allows those hurt in dram shop and social host liability claims to seek punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are planned to penalize especially bad cases of wrongdoing, including gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional bad behavior.
In most instances, New Jersey dram shop claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury in order to be heard in court. However, the facts of every case are different, which is why you should get in touch with an experienced Essex County personal injury attorney as soon as you are able to after suffering an injury to make sure that your rights are covered.
Contact our Experienced New Jersey Firm
If you have been injured due to the negligence of another party and wish to speak with an attorney, contact the Law Office of Christopher T. Howell, Esq. today.
