Chicago Social Host Liability Lawyers

Social Host Liability

Most people are familiar with the requirements of dram shop law, even if they do not know the official legal term for them. According to the Illinois dram shop law, businesses are required to stop serving alcohol to customers who are visibly intoxicated. If they fail to do so, they can be held partially responsible for any injuries caused by intoxicated customers to a third party.

What many people do not realize is that individual people hosting private parties have a similar level of responsibility, known as social host liability. In Illinois, our social host liability standards were set by the Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Act of 2004. According to this act, a person who gives alcohol to a minor can face civil action if that minor goes on to injure someone.

Legal Responsibilities

In Illinois, people are responsible for making sure minors under the age of 18 do not consume alcohol on their premises. If this means that they need to ask their guests for identification, then that is what they need to do. Hosts are also liable if minors consume illegal drugs on their premises.

A social host may be targeted by a lawsuit if:

• He or she served alcohol to a minor, even unknowingly
• The minor became intoxicated as a result
• The minor became involved in an accident, partially or fully caused by the intoxication
• The accident caused injury to another person

He or she can be ordered to pay compensation to the injured party, or surviving family members if the victim did not survive. The compensation may cover medical costs, loss of wages or earning potential, emotional pain and suffering, and more.

Contact Us

If you or a member of your family has been hurt by an impaired minor, you may have grounds for legal action. To learn more, contact Chicago social host liability attorneys Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C., at 312-466-8200.