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Social Host Liability: An Overview

author by Joseph C. Maya on Jun. 09, 2017

Accident & Injury Personal Injury Criminal  DUI-DWI 

Summary: A blog post about liability as a social host regarding accidents on the property or accidents following the social event in which alcohol was over-served.

Contact the personal injury attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. today. We can help you get the just compensation you deserve for your injuries of those of a loved one. For a free initial consultation, call 203-221-3100 or email JMaya@Mayalaw.com.

As a homeowner, there are many ways you can be liable for accidents that happen either on your property or as a result of an action that took place at your social gathering. From allowing guests to drink too much and drive to leaving safety hazards accessible to guests, a number of possible scenarios can leave you at risk for being held legally responsible for damage that results from a party on your property.
While the types of accidents that can occur are numerous, our office most commonly sees two instances of liability:

Over-serving alcohol:

Perhaps the most well-known instance of social host liability occurs when the host of a party or other social gathering serves or allows guests to consume too much alcohol. Similar to a dram shop claim, if you, the host, permit a visibly intoxicated guest to continue ingesting alcohol on the property and then operate a motor vehicle, and that guest causes a collision, you can be held responsible. Hosts can also be liable for over-serving guests who then become violent and harm another person.

Premises liability:

A homeowner is responsible for keeping the property safe for guests. Loose stairs, for example, could cause a guest to trip and fall, and suffer serious injuries. Certain factors can further increase homeowner liability. If you have a dog, there’s a chance that it could bite a guest in your home. Swimming pools can also create a dangerous situation.
To minimize the likelihood of an accident happening on your property or as a result of another event that took place on your property, be an observant host at any social gathering you hold. Supervise pets and children. Never let an intoxicated individual get behind the wheel. Maintain your property to prevent safety hazards. If you are a landlord, be careful who you agree to rent your property to, since liability will ultimately fall on the homeowner rather than a tenant.

At Maya Murphy, P.C., our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to achieving the best results for individuals and their family members and loved ones whose daily lives have been disrupted by injury, whether caused by a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident, a slip and fall, medical malpractice, a defective product, or otherwise. Our attorneys are not afraid to aggressively pursue and litigate cases and have extensive experience litigating personal injury matters in both state and federal courts, and always with regard to the unique circumstances of our client and the injury he or she has sustained.

Source: HG

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