Hit by a Drunk Driver After Leaving a Summer Festival? How to Hold Bars and Vendors Accountable
Summer in Pennsylvania means live music, county fairs, food trucks, fireworks, and festivals. It’s supposed to be a time for fun—but unfortunately, some people make reckless decisions that can ruin lives.
If you or someone you love has been hit by a drunk driver after a summer event, you may be left injured, overwhelmed, and unsure what to do next. What you might not know is that the person who hit you isn’t the only one who may be responsible. If they were overserved alcohol at a beer tent, vendor booth, or nearby bar before getting behind the wheel, that business might be liable too.
This is called a liquor liability case—and if you’re facing one in Northeast PA, you need the right team on your side. At Moran Law Group, our experienced personal injury attorneys in Scranton know how to hold irresponsible vendors and businesses accountable.
What Is a Liquor Liability Case?
A liquor liability case refers to a legal claim filed against a business or vendor that overserved alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated, who then went on to cause harm—like a car crash, assault, or accident.
Under Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Law, bars, restaurants, and even temporary vendors at fairs and music festivals can be held responsible if:
- They served alcohol to someone who was already drunk
- That person left and injured someone else (like you) in an alcohol-related incident
In short: if someone served that drunk driver too much alcohol, and then they hurt you, that server or business may be part of the problem—and part of the lawsuit.
Real-World Scenario: What This Might Look Like
You were driving home from a summer concert. You had your seatbelt on, you were sober, and you were obeying every traffic law.
Then—out of nowhere—a car slammed into you.
Later, police reports show the driver had just come from a festival beer tent. Witnesses say he was stumbling, slurring his words, but the vendor kept pouring. He left drunk—and minutes later, he hit you.
In this scenario, you may be able to bring a liquor liability case in Scranton against both the driver and the vendor that served them.
Types of Events Where Dram Shop Law Can Apply
Liquor liability isn’t limited to traditional bars or taverns. Many summer events serve alcohol, and these places can also be held responsible if they overserve someone who causes an accident:
- Street fairs and block parties
- Concerts and music festivals
- Carnivals and county fairs
- Sports events and tailgates
- Private catered events and weddings
- Brewery or distillery events
- Pop-up vendor booths or trucks serving beer/wine
Even if the alcohol vendor is temporary or part of a larger event, they still have a responsibility to serve responsibly. When they don’t—and someone like you gets hurt—we hold them accountable.
Common Injuries from Post-Event Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents often happen at high speeds and involve poor decision-making. That combination is dangerous. Injuries we often see in these cases include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Head and brain injuries (concussions, TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Facial injuries and disfigurement
- Wrongful death
You may be facing hospital bills, surgeries, physical therapy, time off work, and mental trauma—all because someone decided to serve one more drink to an already drunk person.
Why These Cases Can Be Hard to Prove—Without a Lawyer
To win a liquor liability case in Scranton, you need evidence that the business served the driver alcohol after they were already visibly intoxicated. That’s not always easy to prove without the right team on your side.
At Moran Law Group, we know how to build these cases. We move quickly to gather:
- Eyewitness testimony from people at the event or bar
- Surveillance footage from beer tents, security cams, or vendor booths
- Social media posts or videos
- Alcohol purchase receipts and time stamps
- Event layout details and staffing logs
- Police and EMT reports
- Expert analysis on blood alcohol levels
The earlier we can start building your case, the stronger it will be. Vendors and bars will do everything they can to avoid blame. Don’t wait to get a strong legal team involved.
Why Choose Moran Law Group?
We know how deeply a drunk driving crash can impact your life. You’re not just hurt physically—you’re dealing with the emotional shock, financial stress, and the unfairness of it all.
You need a law firm that truly understands liquor liability cases, and knows how to take on tough opponents like event organizers, vendors, and their insurance companies. That’s what we do.
Here’s why Moran Law Group is the right choice:
✅ We’ve handled dram shop cases for years
✅ We know how to find the proof vendors try to hide
✅ We won’t let insurance companies lowball you
✅ We treat you like a person, not a file
✅ You don’t pay us unless we win
When you’re recovering from an injury caused by a drunk driver, the last thing you should worry about is paperwork or legal jargon. We’ll handle it all, so you can focus on healing.
What Kind of Compensation Can You Recover?
In a liquor liability case in Scranton, you may be eligible for compensation that covers:
- Emergency medical care
- Ongoing doctor visits, surgeries, and rehab
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and PTSD
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage (vehicle repair or replacement)
- Punitive damages (in extreme negligence cases)
We’ll work to calculate the full extent of your damages—because you deserve to be made whole.
Take Action Now—Before It’s Too Late
Time matters. Evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance footage can be deleted. Witnesses forget what they saw. And in Pennsylvania, there are strict time limits for filing a claim—especially when a municipality or event organizer is involved.
The sooner you call, the better chance we have of getting everything we need to win your case.
Contact a Scranton Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver who was overserved at a summer event, let us help you fight back. At Moran Law Group, we understand how these cases work—and we know how to win.
📞 Call today for a free consultation
🔗 Talk to a personal injury attorney at The Moran Law Group
🔗 Learn more about liquor liability cases in Scranton
🔗 Were you hit by a drunk driver in Scranton? See how our car accident lawyers can help
Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Choose the Scranton personal injury lawyers who aren’t afraid to take on big cases—and win.