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(314) 500-HURTCan I Sue a Bar After a Drunk Driving Accident in Illinois? If you or a loved one was injured because somebody
else was reckless and drove drunk, you can bring a civil
lawsuit against the driver to recover compensation for your injuries. However, many Chicago and Illinois
residents may be wondering if a restaurant or bar who served a drunk driver may also be liable. The answer is yes.
Illinois is one of many states that allow plaintiffs to hold licensed alcohol vendors responsible if they serve
someone who went on to cause injuries. If you have been injured in a drunk driving car accident, call Burger Law’s
drunk driving accident attorneys at or contact
us online to discuss your legal options for free.
Illinois has what’s called a “Dram Shop Law,” – so named because vendors used to measure alcohol in units called
“drams” – in which institutions that serve alcohol may be held liable if they serve someone who goes on to cause a
drunk driving accident that causes injury. The last part is important, as if your car was damaged but you were
uninjured in a crash that was caused by a drunk driver, the restaurant or bar is not liable for any of your damages.
Illinois’s Dram Shop law
allows an injured person to bring a claim against a vendor if the alcohol the vendor supplied caused the drunk
driver’s intoxication. Illinois’s law is relatively liberal among Dram Shop laws as it does not require that the
vendor did anything wrong, such as selling to someone underaged or who was visibly intoxicated. In a drunk driving
accident case in Illinois you generally only have to demonstrate three things to prove a Dram Act claim:
If an Illinois institution allowed a patron to become drunk, and that person went on to cause your injuries in a
drunk driving accident, call the skilled and experienced drunk driving accident lawyers at Burger Law to ensure all
liable parties are held responsible and help you get maximum compensation.
Each year the state of Illinois updates its Liquor Control Act of 1934 to set limits on how much a
restaurant or bar may be held financially liable. As of Jan. 20, 2022, that number is $77,787.30 for each person who
was injured, or $95,073.37 if the drunk driving accident causes “loss of means of support” or “loss of society”
because of injury or death.
Some states have what’s called “Social Host Liability”, where a
host at a private residence can be held liable if someone drinks at their home, drives home drunk, and causes an
accident. Illinois is not one of those states, and the Dram Shop law only applies to vendors with alcohol licenses.
The one exception is if the drunk driver is under the age of 21 and becomes intoxicated at a private party. Then the
“host” of the party would be liable.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving
accident, a bar or restaurant may owe you compensation if they served the driver and allowed them to become
intoxicated. You deserve the maximum compensation possible and all liable parties need to be held responsible. If
you have questions about Illinois Dram Shop Law and how it relates to your case, call the drunk driving accident
lawyers at Burger Law today at or contact us online for a free
consultation.
Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO
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