Who Is Responsible If I’m Injured at a Bar?

October 9, 2017

Many adults who live close to Indianapolis have spent a weekend night with their friends having a great time in Broad Ripple or on Mass Ave. Others who are not close to Indianapolis have had the same great time in their own town at a local bar and restaurant.

Most of the time, bars are nothing like the rowdy places shown in the movies. They can be a calm atmosphere to share a drink with friends or coworkers. However, like most places, there are exceptions when you add a different mix of people all consuming alcohol.

Sometimes, the bar can be held responsible if an injury occurs on the property. Your injury can be the result of drinking, fighting, or simply hazardous conditions. You may be able to hold the bar responsible if you can prove that the bar’s negligence was the sole cause of your personal injury.

Types of Bar Negligence

Lack of Security: Many bars make security a huge priority. As mentioned earlier, you never know the type of people who will enter the establishment each night and how the alcohol might affect them. It is not uncommon for someone to get a little out of hand if he has had too much to drink. Because of this, most bars take precaution by hiring security guards to monitor the area and stop any possible conflict that may arise. If a bar fails to provide this security and a fight breaks out, then the bar may be held responsible for any injuries that occur.

Lack of Alcohol Consumption Regulation: Just as many bars take precautions by hiring security guards, many bars also take precaution by training bartenders to recognize customers’ limits. It is important that a bartender be discerning enough to know when to cut a customer off before she goes too far. While ultimately it is the customer’s responsibility to know her limits, if she fails to do so, the responsibility falls on the club and the bartender. Therefore, both the bar and the bartender can be held responsible for the person’s drunken actions and the injuries that occur as a result.

Lack of Legal Supervision: State laws try to limit these types of instances by setting certain laws and standards. A common law that should never be broken is the age limit. If a bar or restaurant serves alcohol to an underage customer, the establishment can face a lawsuit on this act alone. If you add in a bar fight or a personal injury as a result of the minor’s intoxication, the bar can face extreme premises liability charges.

Lack of Hazard Inspection: Many Indiana bars have a fun, rustic feeling. However, this feeling should go no further than the décor. Just like any other public area, it is important that the building is inspected regularly and that any hazard is fixed immediately. With the mix of a crowded room and people drinking, an uneven floorboard or a loose railing could cause serious injury and should be handled in a timely matter so that this does not occur.

Help from an Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer

If you went out for a night of fun with your friends and ended up with a personal injury instead because of a bar’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation. Even if you were hit by a drunk driver, you may be able to hold the establishment responsible if the driver was overserved. Call Hensley Legal Group today for a free consultation or contact us online.