Yes, you can sue a bar in Alabama if they overserved an intoxicated person who later caused an accident. Under the state’s Dram Shop Act, bars, restaurants, and even liquor stores may be held liable if they served alcohol to someone showing signs of impairment who went on to injure someone else.
If you’re a victim, or a family member of someone who was injured or killed, this law might give you the legal path to seek justice and financial relief. But here’s the catch: these cases aren’t easy to win.
You’ll need the right kind of evidence, a fast response, and an attorney who knows how to navigate Alabama’s complex liability rules. We’ll connect you with attorneys who understand these laws, fight aggressively, and help families move forward.
Keep reading if you want a breakdown of how the law works, who can sue, how to build a case, and what kind of compensation you could recover.
What Alabama’s Dram Shop Act Actually Allows
Who Can Sue a Bar Under This Law?
Alabama’s Dram Shop Act, Alabama Code § 6-5-71, was designed to protect the victims of drunk driving accidents, not the individuals who chose to drink. That means only third parties who were injured, or their families in the event of a fatality, can bring a lawsuit.
If you were struck by a drunk driver, or if you lost someone to an alcohol-fueled crash, this law gives you a potential path to recover damages. The intoxicated person themselves, however, cannot sue the bar that served them.
What Counts as “Overserving”?
To hold a bar accountable, it’s not enough to show they served someone who later drove drunk. You must prove that the bar served someone who was already visibly intoxicated. This can include:
- Slurred speech
- Bloodshot eyes
- Stumbling or imbalance
- Loud, erratic, or aggressive behavior
If any of these signs were present and ignored, the bar could be found negligent, even if the server claims they “didn’t know.”
Real-World Example
In one Alabama case, a man consumed 18 drinks across three different restaurants before getting behind the wheel. All three establishments were sued after evidence showed he was visibly impaired at each stop. While not every case is this extreme, it shows how multiple bars can share liability if they failed to intervene.
How Do You Prove a Bar Was Negligent?
Must-Have Evidence
Winning a Dram Shop case in Alabama is about proof. Courts will look for solid, time-stamped documentation showing:
- Credit card receipts revealing how many drinks were ordered in a short span
- Security footage capturing signs of visible impairment
- Testimony from eyewitnesses, bartenders, or even other patrons
These elements create a chain of accountability, showing the bar should have known the patron was too intoxicated to be served.
What If They Called a Cab?
Some bars try to cover themselves by calling a cab or offering to help. While that’s a positive step, it doesn’t erase liability. If they continued to serve someone who was clearly drunk, they may still be held responsible, especially if the person refused the ride and drove off.
Step-by-Step: How to Build Your Case
- Collect receipts – Show what and when the person drank.
- Request surveillance footage immediately – Most bars overwrite video within days.
- Get eyewitness statements – Time is critical; memories fade fast.
- Contact a personal injury attorney – This area of law is technical. You’ll need a professional to guide you.
What You Could Win (and What Might Stop You)
Types of Damages You Can Seek
If you win, Alabama allows you to recover for a range of losses:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages or income
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses (in fatal cases)
- Punitive damages , up to $1.5 million in cases of extreme negligence
This is about holding businesses accountable for putting lives at risk.
What Can Hurt Your Case
Even with solid evidence, several factors can derail a lawsuit:
- Contributory negligence – If you’re found even 1% responsible, you may be barred from recovering damages.
- Missing or deleted footage – Video is powerful, but it’s often lost if not requested quickly.
- The clock runs fast – Alabama gives you just two years from the date of the accident to file.
What to Do Next
- Act within 2 years – Alabama law sets a strict deadline.
- Document everything – Save receipts, medical records, police reports.
- Don’t wait to collect footage – Surveillance video often disappears within days.
- Call Applebaum Accident Group – We’ll connect you with attorneys who understand Dram Shop law and know how to build your case the right way.
Your Next Step Toward Justice Starts Here
If a bar’s careless actions changed your life, you deserve more than frustration and confusion. You deserve answers, and options. At Applebaum Accident Group, we don’t just send you to the first attorney who picks up. We listen. We vet. We match you with lawyers who:
- Know Alabama’s Dram Shop laws inside and out
- Understand how to secure evidence before it vanishes
- Fight for maximum compensation when businesses cut corners
Don’t guess your way through this. Don’t let the clock run out.
👉Contact Applebaum Accident Group, and we’ll help you take the next step toward the outcome you deserve.
