A night out on the town can turn into a disaster when a bar fight breaks out. Whether another patron got aggressive with you specifically, or you were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time, legal action can be taken to seek compensation. The owner of a bar, nightclub, tavern, or restaurant can potentially be held liable if there was inadequate security in place to protect patrons.
The injuries sustained in a bar fight can include:
- Cuts
- Lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Head trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Disfiguring injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
A bar brawl can explode suddenly, and although rare, the consequences can be serious. An aggressive patron who throws punches, uses a weapon, or throws furniture or other items in a bar brawl is violating the law, and endangering others. If you suffered injuries from an assault and battery in a bar, it is important that you speak with a legal professional immediately. A claim must be filed against the assailant, as well as any other liable parties. The value of an insurance settlement varies, based upon what occurred, who was responsible, and the degree of the injuries sustained.
You may know the person who caused your injuries, or it may have been a stranger. The assailant may have been apprehended by police, or may have run from the area before the police arrived. In either case, you have legal recourse.
Dram Shop Laws: Bars and Restaurants Have a Legal Responsibility
Restaurants, bars and other venues that serve alcoholic beverages have a responsibility to patrons. State lawmakers have enacted specific “dram shop laws” to protect the public. No bar, nightclub, restaurant, tavern or other venue can serve a patron who is visibly intoxicated. If a drunk patron was over-served, and subsequently became aggressive and started a bar fight or brawl, the bar or restaurant owner will be facing serious legal trouble.
The dram shop laws come into play most often in incidents where a patron was served alcohol when visibly intoxicated, and then was involved in a DUI accident, causing injury or death. The same holds true for incidents in which patrons were injured in a bar fight.
If you were a victim of assault and battery in a bar fight, or were injured by a drunk motorcycle driver, call a lawyer to assist you with the legal issues associated with compensation. The monetary damages pursued by your lawyer may pay for the costs of your medical treatment and care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages, based upon the facts in your case.
The first step is to have your case reviewed by a professional. It is advised that you contact our Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyer and injury lawyer Jeffrey Harlan Penneys, Esq. immediately. Interviews with witnesses should be conducted as early as possible after the incident. Our firm has recovered millions in damages and we stand ready to help you seek justice. Call now for a free case evaluation.