Dram Shop Liability Attorney — Holding Bars and Restaurants Accountable for Over-Serving Alcohol
When a bar, restaurant, or social host serves alcohol irresponsibly—and someone gets seriously injured or killed as a result—they may be held legally accountable. At the Hodge Law Firm, our Spartanburg dram shop liability attorneys help victims, and their families, seek justice after alcohol-related accidents.
What Is Dram Shop Liability?
In certain circumstances, Dram shop laws in South Carolina allow injured victims to file a claim against businesses or individuals who served alcohol to someone who was:
- Intoxicated and/or over-served
- Under the legal drinking age (under 21)
If that intoxicated person then caused harm—such as a drunk driving crash or violent assault—the bar, restaurant, or social host that over-served them may share legal responsibility.
Our experienced Upstate South Carolina dram shop lawyers are ready to investigate and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Common Dram Shop Cases We Handle
- Drunk driving accidents after bar or restaurant over-service and/or underage service
- Fatal DUI crashes involving underage or intoxicated drivers
- Pedestrians or cyclists hit by intoxicated drivers
- Bar fights or assaults by intoxicated patrons
- Injuries caused by drunk patrons at concerts, parties, or sporting events
- Underage drinking incidents resulting in injury or death
If you or a loved one has been harmed by someone who was irresponsibly served alcohol, we may be able to hold both the individual and the establishment legally accountable.
Why Choose Hodge Law Firm?
- Extensive experience with DUI-related injury and wrongful death claims
- We investigate over-serving violations, alcohol service policies, and eyewitness reports
- Face-to-face legal service from attorneys who treat your case personally
- No legal fees unless we win your case
Our team works closely with toxicology experts, investigators, and law enforcement to build strong, evidence-based claims.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
- Bars and nightclubs
- Restaurants and taverns
- Private party hosts or event venues
- Liquor stores that sell to minors or visibly drunk individuals
- Event vendors or caterers at weddings, festivals, and concerts
-
What Compensation Can You Recover?
If you’ve been injured due to an intoxicated person’s actions—and that person was illegally or negligently served alcohol—you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses and long-term care
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and PTSD
- Property damage (vehicle, home, belongings)
- Wrongful death damages, if you lost a loved one
- Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
Our goal is to secure full and fair compensation to help you recover physically, financially, and emotionally.
How We Prove a Dram Shop Case
- Free Case Consultation
We’ll listen to your story and determine if the facts support a dram shop claim.
- Investigate the Alcohol Service
We gather surveillance footage, witness statements, police reports, toxicology results, and training records for bartenders or servers.
- Build a Strong Legal Argument
We work with toxicologists and alcohol service experts to show the individual was visibly intoxicated—and that the business served them anyway.
- Negotiate or Go to Trial
We fight for full compensation and are fully prepared to present your case in court if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does “dram shop” mean?
The term comes from old laws regulating establishments that sold alcohol by the dram (a small unit of liquid). Today, it refers to businesses that sell and/or serve alcohol.
Do South Carolina’s dram shop laws apply to private parties?
Yes. In certain circumstances, social hosts can be held liable if they serve alcohol to minors who then cause harm.
Is it hard to prove a dram shop case?
They can be challenging—but with the right legal strategy, witness interviews, toxicology evidence, and surveillance footage, we regularly succeed in holding negligent alcohol servers accountable.
How long do I have to file a dram shop claim?
In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of the injury or death to file a lawsuit in South Carolina. This time period may be shortened by the type of defendant.
Talk to a Spartanburg Dram Shop Liability Attorney Today
We fight for victims of irresponsible alcohol service. If a bar, restaurant, or party host over-served someone who later caused a crash, assault, or fatal accident—you may have a legal claim against more than just the drunk individual. Let the team at Hodge Law Firm help you explore your rights.
Call 864-585-3873 for a free consultation or fill out the form below and we’ll reach back out to you as quickly as possible.
Submission of information in this contact form does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In order to establish such a relationship with our firm we require a direct meeting with the attorney.