Drunk driving crashes are devastating – they are also entirely preventable. But every day, dozens of people die in accidents, and hundreds more suffer injuries that never had to happen.

If you or a loved one is part of these tragic statistics, you should know who may be liable for the damages you have suffered.

Liability Beyond A Driver

The individual who chose to get behind the wheel and drive after drinking is the first person people think of when they think of who is liable for a DUI accident. And this may be the only party who is legally responsible for a crash.

However, other parties can carry financial liability when a drunk driver causes an accident. For instance, if an establishment overserved someone or allowed an obviously intoxicated person to purchase alcohol, those vendors that provided the alcohol could be liable under Alabama dram shop laws.

The host of a party could also be liable under social host laws. The host could be liable if they served alcohol to minors or continued to serve an intoxicated driver.

There are also situations in which other people could be responsible.

For instance, recently, a young girl was killed by the son of an NFL coach who admitted to drinking before driving. Reports suggest that the driver could possibly have been drinking at the team facility and in the presence of team officials. If an investigation and toxicology results confirm these reports, it could open up third-parties to liabilities.

Holding Parties Accountable

It is vital to identify all liable parties after a drunk driving accident for numerous reasons. First, it can allow victims and their families to seek maximum compensation for the devastating consequences of a crash. 

A comprehensive look into potential liability can also reveal other acts of wrongdoing. For instance, parties may be violating local rules for lockdowns and restrictions on social gatherings and bar and restaurant operations.

When people do not take reasonable steps to prevent accidents and keep others safe, they can be responsible for the catastrophic outcome of that negligence.