Proving who is at fault when an intoxicated driver leaves a bar (or other establishment) and gets into an accident can be an incredibly complicated task.
So far forty three states, including Colorado, have adopted “dram shop laws” which make it possible for bar owners and other social establishments to be held financially liable for accidents if it can be proven that the individual who left the establishment and caused the accident was visibly drunk.
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has found a clear correlation between the introduction of dram shop laws and reduced fatalities caused by drunk driving accidents.
“Studies show that states that have a high level of dram shop liability have more publicity about the impacts of liability and have more servers and managers who are aware of liability,” the organization stated. “In 2001, researchers found a 5.8 percent decrease in fatal crashes from dram shop liability laws.”
To learn more about dram shop laws are working in Colorado, plus when a bar can be held liable for a drunk driving accident, read this article.