Enjoying alcoholic beverages with friends and family, and watching college and pro football, may well be two of the most popular pastimes in the United States. But there is every evidence that the two frequently make for a deadly combination.

At Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, we have spent more than 50 years fighting for the rights of victims and families whose lives have been devastated by the senseless and irresponsible acts committed by those who choose to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. While we are also passionate about football, we urge you to be responsible and watch out for each other as the autumn football season begins.

A study published in the journal “Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research,” found eight percent of adult fans were legally drunk while attending pro baseball and football games. That is a staggering statistic when you consider the size of most pro-sports arenas. The study concluded the average stadium of 60,000 would have as many as 4,000 patrons who are intoxicated. Researchers point to tailgating as a primary factor, finding those patrons were 14 times more likely to be legally drunk.

Tailgate Responsibly – Never Drink and Drive

The simple truth of the matter is that a little planning eliminates the chances you will be found responsible for seriously injuring or killing someone after drinking and driving. The legal consequences can be severe, including years behind bars, and the financial liability can be equally devastating. But our drunk driving accident lawyers know even those consequences are nothing compared to the consequences suffered by those dealing with the serious injury or death of a loved one in a drunk driving accident.

Whether celebrating at a private residence with friends and family, or tailgating at your local stadium, let common sense and safety prevail.

Have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks on hand.
Serve plenty of food.
Never serve anyone under the age of 21.
Obey the law.
Choose a designated driver.
Have a plan for getting home safely and make sure everyone else does too. A safe ride is just a cellphone app or a friend away.
Stop serving alcohol at the start of the game or no later than the end of the first quarter.

It’s important for restaurants, bars and stadium vendors to understand that Florida’s dram shop laws may well hold server’s of alcohol responsible if a patron is later involved in a serious or fatal collision. This is particularly true when over-service occurs, or when an underage consumer of alcohol is blamed for a serious or fatal collision.

These are complex cases, frequently involving multiple accident victims. In many cases, an at-fault driver’s insurance coverage will be nowhere near adequate enough to compensate victims for resulting damages. In many cases, drivers, vehicle owners and other at-fault parties must be pursued for damages directly, and a claim may even need to be filed against a victim’s own insurance carrier. Immediate consultation with an experienced drunk driving accident law firm in Fort Myers is the best thing you can do to protect your rights.

If you or a loved one is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, at 1-800-646-1210.