DUI Accident Lawyer in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Revised Statute § 265-A:2 is the state’s drunk driving law and makes it illegal for any person to drive in New Hampshire when he or she has consumed an amount of alcohol that renders him or her incapable of safely driving or he or she has a breath or blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Violators will be charged with DUI and can face criminal penalties that include possible fines and imprisonment.
If a DUI offender causes a traffic accident, he or she could also face potential civil liability. A civil action against a drunk driver is separate from his or her criminal case, but a criminal conviction may be used to prove negligence in the civil case.
Did you sustain severe injuries or was your loved one killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver in New Hampshire? You will want to contact Need an Injury Lawyer New Hampshire as soon as possible. Our firm represents clients in Portsmouth, Milford, Goffstown, Hampton, Laconia, Manchester, Berlin, Nashua, Conway, Concord, Raymond, Amherst, Derry, Hanover, Dover, Somersworth, Rochester, Pelham, Salem, Lebanon, Merrimack, Claremont, Hudson, Hooksett, Londonderry, Windham, Keene, Exeter, Bedford, Durham, and many other nearby areas.
Dram Shop Laws in New Hampshire
Drunk drivers themselves may not be the only liable parties for DUI accidents. In certain cases, an establishment that overserved or illegally served the drunk driver could also be liable under New Hampshire’s “dram shop” law.
A dram shop law refers to the 18th Century England shops that sold alcohol by the dram, or roughly a teaspoon. New Hampshire Revised Statute § 507-F:4 is the statute dedicated to negligent service of alcoholic beverages.
Proving that alcohol was served to a minor is not as difficult as proving that a person was obviously intoxicated, but an experienced attorney may be able to obtain evidence such as bar tabs that can be used to indicate how intoxicated an offender was. It is important to note that a dram shop claim in New Hampshire will also require a plaintiff to prove that the alcohol served to the obviously intoxicated person or minor directly caused the victim’s injuries, generally meaning that establishments may not be liable if drunk drivers consumed alcohol at multiple locations before crashes.
Social Host Liability in New Hampshire
Similar to dram shop laws, social host liability allows people who host private functions to also be held liable for damages stemming from accidents caused by drunk drivers. The Supreme Court of New Hampshire has held that the state dram shop law can apply to private individuals as well as businesses when social hosts serve alcohol to minors or obviously intoxicated persons.
Find a DUI Accident Attorney in New Hampshire
If you suffered catastrophic injuries or your loved one was killed in a drunk driving crash in New Hampshire, it is in your best interest to quickly retain legal counsel. Need an Injury Lawyer New Hampshire helps clients in communities all over Carroll County, Strafford County, Belknap County, Cheshire County, Grafton County, Hillsborough County, Coos County, Rockingham County, Sullivan County, and Merrimack County.
Our firm is available 24/7 to schedule a free consultation so you can have our experienced personal injury attorneys provide a complete evaluation of your case.