[NA] drunk driving - host responsible? [NA]

[saracelica]

Let's say I had a party. Good ole Time. Friends of course. But they get drunk. Leave. Nevermind how drunk I am. One of them gets nailed for dwi and killing someone.

Police come back to me? What would they charge me with doing? Is that a felony?

Just curious. I don't drink nor encourage others to drink. I know I'm so fun!

 

[James331]

Let's say I had a party. Good ole Time. Friends of course. But they get drunk. Leave. Nevermind how drunk I am. One of them gets nailed for dwi and killing someone.

Police come back to me? What would they charge me with doing? Is that a felony?

Just curious. I don't drink nor encourage others to drink. I know I'm so fun!

It's called personal responsibility and being a adult, they made the choices they made, unless you told them you were going to murder their kids if they didn't drive drunk or something, I really don't see what you have to do with it.

 

[PPC1052]

Could be a dram shop violation for providing alcohol to visibly intoxicated person. Yes, you could be sued.

 

[steingar]

Depends entirely on how deep your pockets seem to the plaintiff's attorney. If you're poor like me they won't bother. But if you have a substantial estate they'll find a way.

 

[tawood]

Let's say I had a party. Good ole Time. Friends of course. But they get drunk. Leave. Nevermind how drunk I am. One of them gets nailed for dwi and killing someone.

Police come back to me? What would they charge me with doing? Is that a felony?

Just curious. I don't drink nor encourage others to drink. I know I'm so fun!

Criminal? No...not in any state I'm aware of...now civilly? You are ALWAYS at risk of being sued...and in your example, possibly at risk to pay out.

 

[wsuffa]

Depends on the state and locality. And the age of the friends (underage is stricter).

Check both dram laws and social responsibility laws.

 

[kyleb]

Friends had two very young children injured in an accident with a drunk driver. The drunk crossed the center line and collided with my friends' car when it was stopped at a light. The ultimate result was that the driver was sued, the promoter for the event where the driver got drunk was sued, and the beer distributor was sued as well. I don't know all of the details, but the promoter and beer distributor settled out of court for a large sum.

 

[weilke]

Friends had two very young children injured in an accident with a drunk driver. The drunk crossed the center line and collided with my friends' car when it was stopped at a light. The ultimate result was that the driver was sued, the promoter for the event where the driver got drunk was sued, and the beer distributor was sued as well. I don't know all of the details, but the promoter and beer distributor settled out of court for a large sum.

Prob a state with a strong 'dram shop law'. Very expensive to insure a bar in those places.

 

[timwinters]

No one should be responsible for their own actions any longer...especially when personal injury lawyers come knocking at the door.

 

[RalphInCA]

Depends entirely on how deep your pockets seem to the plaintiff's attorney. If you're poor like me they won't bother. But if you have a substantial estate they'll find a way.

Unfortunately, in this “wonderful“ country of ours, this is reality.

 

[Palmpilot]

dram shop rule

n. a statute (Dram Shop Act) or case law in 38 states which makes a business which sells alcoholic drinks or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously intoxicated or close to it, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken patron or guest. To the contrary, California recently passed legislation specifically banning such strict liability. It is often hard to prove that the liquor bought or served was the specific cause of an accident (such as an automobile crash while driving home), since there is always an intervening cause, namely, the drunk.

https://dictionary.law.com/Default.aspx?selected=584

Take THAT, California-haters!

 

[Hank S]

Huh. Whenever we get together with friends, almost everyone brings their own beverage of choice . . . So no "serving" is done.