It’s that time of year when people go to more parties, outdoor events and barbecues. Most of these events involve a lot of drinking. People tend to let their hair down in the spring and summer. It's nice outside and people like to get together with friends and family.
People drink a lot more in the summer than they do the rest of the year. With all the concerts and pool parties, there are a lot of people on the road who’ve been drinking. This means personal injury lawyers in Crestview, Florida see a lot more accident victims this time of year.
It’s not just drunk drivers that you have to worry about in summer. There are so many different ways alcohol can hurt people. It’s not just car accidents you have to worry about. And since more people are drinking in the summer time, there’s a much greater chance you or your loved one could suffer an alcohol-related injury.
Regardless of the type of accident you’re involved in, if you get hurt, you’re going to need a personal injury lawyer. The good news is, there are experienced injury lawyers in Crestview who can help you get compensation for your injuries.
What are the Common Types of Alcohol Related Injuries?
Obviously, drunk driving accidents is the most common type of alcohol related accidents. However, they’re not the only kind. When people drink, they make bad decisions. When we make bad decisions, people get hurt.
Some of the more common types of alcohol-related accidents in Crestview, Florida, include:
- Assault and battery
- Falls
- Pool accidents
These accidents fall into two categories. There are those accidents that happen because someone else is drunk. Then there are the injuries you suffer because other people served you too much alcohol.
The first type of accident is more likely to end up in a personal injury lawsuit. For the second type, it depends on whether your Crestview injury lawyer can prove negligence.
You’re at Greater Risk of a Drunken Assault in the Summer
Lots of us go out to the bars in the summer. A lot of places have live music outdoors. There are all kinds of beach events and public parties. These places get really crowded. When you put hundreds of people who’ve been drinking together, bad things can happen.
If you’ve ever been to an outdoor concert where people are drinking, you know how scary it can get. People are stumbling and bump into other people. Verbal disagreements turn into physical altercations. When this happens, people get hurt.
Bar brawls are usually the result of too much alcohol. People don’t typically get into fights when they’re not drinking. Even if you’re not the person involved in the altercation, that doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt.
Most injuries suffered in a bar fight aren’t suffered by the people fighting. They’re suffered by innocent people standing nearby. In crowded bars in the summer, there’s nowhere to hide. If a fight breaks out near you, there’s a good chance you could get injured.
Bar owners and management are under an obligation to keep their guests safe. First, they shouldn’t serve people to the point where they’re drunk enough to start trouble. Second, security needs to be on the alert for these types of altercations. They need to stop them either before they start or shortly thereafter.
When management doesn’t do this, people get hurt. If you’re injured as the result of a bar fight, you may have a legal claim. Your personal injury lawyer in Florida will file a claim against the bar owner’s insurance company.
If the insurance company won’t pay your claim, your lawyer can try to negotiate a settlement. However, if this doesn’t work, they’ll have no choice but to file a lawsuit on your behalf.
You’re More Likely to Suffer a Fall When You’ve Been Drinking
Common sense tells us that we’re more liable to fall and get hurt when we’ve been drinking. For the most part, you should be held responsible for your own behavior. If you drink too much and fall, you shouldn’t be able to blame someone else.
However, there are times when a property owner is responsible for your slip and fall injuries. Or, you may have a claim against a bar or restaurant who overserved you. Your personal injury lawyer in Crestview can review your case and let you know which direction to take.
In some cases, you would have fallen and gotten hurt whether you were drinking or not. For example, let’s say you were at a concert and had 5 beers over a few hours. You are walking through the outdoor arena and trip over cables leading to the stage. You fall and break your ankle and several teeth.
Your personal injury attorney can show that anyone would’ve tripped over the cables and fallen, regardless of whether they’ve been drinking or not. Also, since the concert venue should reasonably expect their guests to be drinking, they should make extra efforts to keep them safe. Leaving wires and cables out for people to trip over may constitute negligence.
Now, let’s consider a case where the property owner may not be liable for your injuries. You were out drinking at a bar for about 6 hours. You had many beers and shots. You posted a video on Facebook before you left the bar laughing about how you haven’t been that drunk since college.
When you leave the bar, you fall down the steps. You suffer a sprained wrist and dislocated shoulder. The video at the bar’s exit shows that you were stumbling the whole way. You refused the bouncer’s assistance to your car.
In this case, your lawyer will have a hard time proving that the bar is liable for your fall. They did all they could to help you, but you refused their assistance. You would not have fallen had you not been so drunk. Your lawyer can’t really argue that you weren’t drunk because of the video you posted on Facebook.
As you can see, these types of cases are all different. It really depends on the circumstances. When you meet with your Crestview personal injury lawyer for the first time, they’ll let you know if they think you have a valid claim for damages.
What if a Lifeguard is Drinking While on Duty?
Nobody ever wants to think that someone like a lifeguard would drink on the job. When it’s your responsibility to keep people, especially children, safe, the last thing you should do is drink alcohol. However, it happens every day.
It’s not just lifeguards at public pools you have to worry about. You could take your children to an event at a hotel or lake. There are lifeguards on duty there. If they drink alcohol or take drugs while on duty, your child could get hurt or even die.
Your personal injury lawyer will fight to make sure the people responsible for your child’s injuries are held accountable. In order to do so, your lawyer will have to prove negligence. In order to do this, they’ll have to demonstrate the following:
- The property owner or management company owed you a duty of care
- They breached this duty
- You or your child were injured
- Your injuries were caused by the defendant’s breach of duty
The first part is easy. Any property owner with a pool or swimming area is responsible for keeping swimmers safe. If there’s a lifeguard on duty, that lifeguard is required to stay sober. If they drink or take drugs, they’ve clearly breached their duty.
As for injuries, they’re pretty easy to prove as well. As long as you go to the hospital right after your accident, your lawyer will have proof of injury.
The hard part is showing that, even if the lifeguard had been sober, the result would’ve been the same. An experienced personal injury attorney in Florida will be able to do this.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Crestview, Florida Today
If you or your loved one suffer any type of alcohol-related injury this summer, you need to call a personal injury lawyer in Crestview right away. Your lawyer can review your case and let you know if you have a valid claim for damages.
Call today and schedule your initial consultation. Remember to bring the following information with you when you meet with your attorney for the first time:
- Medical records showing your injuries
- Copies of any bills you’ve received for your medical treatment
- Any out of pocket expenses you’ve suffered
- Pictures of the accident or injuries
- Information for anyone who saw the accident take place
- Police report (if you have one)
- Copies of any correspondence you’ve received from the defendant, their insurance company or lawyer.
Your first consultation is absolutely free. Plus, you don’t pay a dime until you settle your case. This is not something you want to handle yourself. Rely on an experienced personal injury lawyer.