Drunk driving accidents in Seattle are unfortunately common and can cause devastating injuries to innocent people involved. If you or someone you love was hurt in this type of crash, you may be struggling to understand how this could have happened and who should be held responsible.
Someone chose to drink too much, decided to drive, and your life changed because of it. It’s natural to ask whether anyone else played a role in what happened. Can a bar be held liable for a drunk driver? Is the bartender who served them responsible? In Washington State, the answer is sometimes yes, but only in specific situations.
Our experienced Seattle drunk driving accident lawyer helps people injured by drunk drivers understand their options and get the compensation they need to recover. Here’s what you need to know about bartender and bar liability in Seattle, and how it may apply to your injury claim.
Seattle DUI-Related Crashes: Can a Bar Be Held Liable For A Drunk Driver?
Liability is a commonly used legal term. In King County car accident claims, it refers to the at-fault party, their role in causing the crash, and whether they can be held accountable in a claim for the losses you suffer.
Obviously, the drunk driver is ultimately responsible for their role in causing a wreck. However, a bar can be held liable for its behavior and the harm it causes others as well. This is known as a third-party claim.
While generally permitted, Washington State, unlike some other places, does not have broad “dram shop” laws. These allow drunk driving victims to hold bar owners financially responsible for overserving guests. However, under the Washington Code, there are certain situations in which bar owners can be held liable, such as when alcohol service clearly created a danger to others.
The question of whether a bar can be held liable for injuries you suffer in a Seattle drunk driving car accident depends heavily on the facts involved. There are generally three situations in which you may be able to get compensation for your vehicle damages, medical bills, lost income, and other costs from a bar owner in a King County drunk driving accident claim:
- If they created an environment that promoted heavy drinking.
- If they overserved bar patrons.
- If they failed to cut someone off who was visibly intoxicated.
- If they failed to check IDs and served alcohol to minors.
So, the answer to the question, “Can a bar be held liable for a drunk driver in Washington State?” is yes, provided that the bar owner or their employees were negligent in their duty to serve alcoholic beverages safely and responsibly.
Are Bartenders Responsible For Drunk Drivers in Seattle?
Despite strict laws, increased public awareness, and a strong law enforcement presence on the road, drunk driving car accidents in Seattle continue to happen regularly. Unfortunately, they are among the most common and potentially deadly types of crashes.
According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), drunk-driving-related car accidents claim the lives of nearly 60 people in King County each year, leaving hundreds of other victims suffering serious injuries. Other than the bar itself, is a bartender responsible for drunk drivers and the harm they cause on Seattle roads? To bring this type of third-party claim, victims typically must be able to prove:
- The bartender served alcohol to the driver.
- The driver was visibly intoxicated or underage.
- The bartender knew, or should have known, that serving them was dangerous.
- The driver’s intoxication directly caused or contributed to the crash.
- You suffered real injuries, property damages, and other losses as a result.
As with all injury claims, third-party liability claims in Washington State rely heavily on evidence. Receipts from the bar, surveillance video, witness statements, employee testimony, and toxicology results can all help show what happened. Proving that a bartender ignored obvious signs of intoxication or served someone under the age of 18 can make all the difference when seeking accountability and the compensation you need to recover in a Seattle drunk driving car accident claim.
What Counts as Visible Intoxication or Reckless Service
One of the most important issues in determining if a bar or bartender is responsible for drunk drivers in Seattle car accident cases is whether they kept serving alcohol despite clear signs that the customer should have been cut off.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that even just a few drinks can cause significant impairment beyond the wheel, increasing the risks of a crash. Are bartenders responsible for drunk drivers in this type of case? Is the bar? Washington courts look closely at whether a reasonable bartender or bar owner would have realized the danger.
Common signs of visible intoxication that, if ignored, could amount to reckless service in a Seattle drunk driving claim include:
- Slurred or slowed speech;
- Trouble standing or walking;
- Poor coordination or dropping items;
- Aggressive or erratic behavior;
- Delayed reactions or confusion.
Continuing to serve alcohol under these circumstances, especially repeatedly, may be considered negligent. Serving alcohol to a minor is even more serious and often easier to prove.
For victims, this means that bar or bartender liability does not depend on proving bad intentions. It depends on showing that they ignored clear warning signs and put the public at risk.
Injured in a King County Drunk Driving Crash? Schedule a Consultation Today With Our Experienced Seattle Car Accident Lawyer
Injured in a drunk driving crash and wondering whether the bar or bartenders can be held accountable? While the driver is primarily at fault, they may not be the only one to blame.
At Washington Injury Law, we look closely at where alcohol was served, what warning signs were ignored, and who should be held responsible. Representing crash victims and their families throughout King County, including Downtown (98101), Capitol Hill (98102), U-District (98105), and Queen Anne (98109), contact our experienced Seattle car accident lawyer and request a consultation today.