Alcohol and Personal Injuries – Who’s liable?

Christmas is fast approaching, with the additional gathering of friends and family, work parties and New Year’s celebrations it is safe to say alcohol consumption will be on the increase. We are commonly asked if a personal injury claim can be made after there has been alcohol involved on behalf of the individual making the claim.

If you have had an injury whilst under the influence of alcohol you may still be eligible to make a claim, although you will need to prove that the accident was caused through no fault of your own. If you were highly intoxicated at the time of the accident you may also be liable to prove that the accident wasn’t caused by your intoxication.

Due to the complexity and individuality of these types of accidents they are usually assessed on a case by case basis.

Some common injuries caused by alcohol include:

Slips, Trips & Falls

Slips, Trips & Falls can be a common occurrence when alcohol is readily available in places such as pubs, clubs, restaurants etc. The danger of falling is also increased when locations are crowded, disorientation of loud music and wet floors from spills.

In addition to the already apparent dangers, alcohol can start to impair senses such as reflexes and balance, you also need to be aware of other intoxicated individuals who could be unstable. If you suffer a slip due to negligence you could have a claim under public liability.

Bar Fights / Domestic Violence

When large amounts of alcohol are consumed, tensions can run high which commonly lead to a number of issues, such as:

• Unprovoked attacks
• Arguments that escalate to assaults
• Being caught between an ongoing fight
• Excessive force from door men/ security  

One of the leading factors of domestic violence comes down to drug and alcohol consumption. Statistically men are more likely to attack their family or partners whilst intoxicated.  If you have been injured due to a bar fight that you have been in or caught between or injured by a partner or family member and you wish to make a personal injury claim, then get in touch. We have a sympathetic approach to all cases and understand the difficulty involved in making such a claim.

Road Traffic Accidents

If you are driving whilst intoxicated you are much more likely to be involved in an accident in comparison to sober drivers.  If you are hit by a drunk driver you will have a high probability of making a successful claim where a personal injury case can be brought against the offender. See more relating to road traffic accidents here.

Contact Us

If you are the victim of a personal injury this Christmas or if you would like to claim for a previous accident in the last three years that wasn’t your fault please get in touch and one of our personal injury specialists will be happy to assist you.