Who can I sue if I am hit by a drunk truck driver?

Alcohol accident You have the right to sue a commercial truck driver, the trucking company and others if the driver of the commercial truck was at fault for an accident in which you were injured or a loved one was killed. If the truck driver had been drinking alcohol before the accident, you may also have a dram shop claim against a bar, restaurant or other establishment that served the truck driver alcohol.

What is a dram shop claim?

Any establishment selling liquor illegally is considered a “dram shop” and is responsible for the dangerous actions of an intoxicated person when they have illegally sold liquor to that person. In addition to bars and liquor stores, these establishments can include restaurants, social clubs, and sometimes even private events where liquor is sold.

Examples of the illegal sale of alcohol include the following:

Selling alcohol to an obviously intoxicated customer;
Selling alcohol without a license to do so;
Selling alcohol after hours; or
Selling alcohol to a minor.

I have represented many victims of drunk driving accidents and their families. Our goal in these case – and in all of our cases – is both to help our clients get on with their lives but also to hold accountable all of the parties who caused the harm to our clients. In many cases, that means not only the drunk driver, but also the dram shop whose illegal sale contributed to the accident.

Passenger on a Motorcycle Hit by a Drunk Driver

One of the cases our law firm handled is a good example of a dram shop case and illustrates the need for dram shop laws.

Our client was riding on the back of a motorcycle when it was hit from behind by a drunk driver. Her leg was crushed in the accident and later had to be amputated.

The drunk driver had been drinking at a bar just minutes before the accident. Our attorneys found this out during their investigation and sued the bar for money damages to help compensate our client for her tremendous loss.

The bar had a large insurance policy that covered much of the $6,000,000 won by our attorneys at court.

Pritzker Olsen law firm represents accident victims throughout the United States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Wins Millions for Client

Attorney Fred Pritzker won $6,000,000 for a client whose right leg was amputated when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger was struck by a drunk driver. If you have been in an accident with a DUI driver, you may have a cliam against a bar or other place that sells alcohol.

Truck Wheel Accident Death

Our law firm recently won $2,850,000 for a family whose loved one was killed by a truck wheel that crashed through a car windshield. Read about a truck wheel off accident.

Tow Truck Accident

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen obtained a $2,750,000 recovery for a 59 year-old truck driver who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the loss of his left eye and significant disfigurement when the tow chain being used to pull the man’s semi tractor-trailer out of a ditch broke loose from a front-end loader to which it was attached.

Semi-Truck Crash Settlement

Pritzker Olsen attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman recently obtained a hard-fought $2,560,000 recovery for a couple who were seriously injured in a semi-truck crash. The husband suffered serious head injury (TBI). Read about the semi truck crash settlement.

Our lawyers have recovered millions more for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation about your accident.

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.

Practice Areas

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death