Who are the appropriate defendants in a Fort Worth, Texas dram shop case?

Identifying The Defendants In A Fort Worth, Texas Dram Shop Case

It is important to understand that the seller or provider of alcohol may potentially be responsible for any accidents caused by a drunk driver. It is crucial that you retain a personal injury attorney who is experienced in handling such matters. In this article we will discuss another important topic – the process of identifying the defendants in such a case. If you or a loved one have been injured then it is important that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

Fort Worth DUI victims must conduct an investigation as to how the defendant obtained alcohol

When a Fort Worth resident is the victim of a DUI, it may not be readily apparent that there may be liable parties other than the drunk driver. As we discussed in our last article, a provider of alcohol may only be sued under specific circumstances. Fortunately, the discovery process allows a victim to determine where the drunk driver obtained alcohol and to identify other possible defendants. We previously discussed the use of discovery in trucking accident cases. Many of those same concepts apply in drunk driving cases. The discovery process can be used to obtain the defendant’s bank records and credit card statements. This, in turn, can possibly identify the location at which the defendant obtained alcohol.

A thorough investigation can be launched once the discovery process has shown where the defendant obtained alcohol. Say, for example, that the defendant was at a bar. The Plaintiff’s attorney could visit the bar and interview the bartenders. Counsel could also obtain surveillance footage and other information from the bar which would show whether the bartenders were serving someone who was visibly intoxicated. Other potential witnesses can also be identified from the process. These are just some examples of how a proper investigation can lead to the naming of additional defendants in a Dram shop case.

Fort Worth drunk driving victims should retain a personal injury lawyer with the resources necessary to fully investigate their case

If you or a loved one have been injured by a drunk driver then it is important that you retain a personal injury lawyer with the resources necessary to fully investigate the matter. If your counsel does not conduct a full investigation then you run the risk of failing to name a potential defendant. When you are considering which law firm to retain, we suggest you utilize the services of an office in which the attorneys are board certified in personal injury law and which also employs its own on-staff investigator. The suggestions hold true regardless of whether you were injured in Fort Worth, Dallas, or elsewhere in the state of Texas.