Were you injured in an accident caused by someone who was served alcohol at a private gathering in Chicago, Illinois? Under certain circumstances, the person who hosted the event may share legal responsibility for your injuries. Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC can help you determine whether a social host liability claim applies to your situation and pursue the maximum possible compensation on your behalf from there if possible.
Our Chicago personal injury attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience and have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our deserving clients to date. If you hire us, we’ll do everything in our power to help you make the most of your claim, including the possibility of representing you at trial.
Call us at (224) 481-1926 for a free consultation to learn more. We can answer any questions you may have at that time.
How Mark L. Karno & Associates Can Help With Your Social Host Liability Claim in Chicago
Social host liability cases are less common than typical claims involving premises liability and drunk driving, and they involve legal questions that many attorneys aren’t equipped to handle. You need a legal team that understands the specific rules that apply and that knows how to build a successful case around them.
Mark L. Karno & Associates is qualified to help you every step of the way. When you hire our personal injury lawyers for your case, we can:
- Investigate the circumstances of the event where the alcohol was served
- Determine whether the host’s conduct meets the legal threshold for liability under Illinois law
- Gather evidence, including witness statements, photos, and communications related to the gathering
- Calculate the full value of your economic and non-economic damages
- Take your case to court if the responsible parties won’t settle fairly
Want more information about forming an attorney-client relationship? Reach out to us today to schedule a free initial consultation.
What Is Social Host Liability in Illinois?
Social host liability refers to the legal responsibility a private individual can face for serving alcohol to someone who then goes on to cause harm. Illinois takes a more limited approach to this area of law than some other states, so learning about how the rules work is important before pursuing a claim.
Under the Illinois Liquor Control Act, social hosts are generally not liable for injuries caused by intoxicated guests. However, there is a significant exception. If the host knowingly serves alcohol to a minor (someone under 21) and that minor goes on to injure someone, the host can be held liable for the resulting damages.
This exception applies when the host was aware that the person they were serving was underage. If a homeowner throws a party and provides alcohol to teenagers, knowing they’re under 21, and one of those teenagers causes a drunk driving accident afterward, the host may face a civil lawsuit from the victims of that crash.
For adults at a social gathering, the rules are different. Illinois law generally does not hold social hosts liable for serving alcohol to adult guests who are already visibly intoxicated. The responsibility in those situations typically falls on the intoxicated individual themselves. This is a key distinction that separates social host liability from dram shop liability, which applies to bars and restaurants that overserve their customers.
Contact a Chicago Social Host Liability Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you were injured because someone provided alcohol to a minor who then caused an accident, you may have legal options available to you. Mark L. Karno & Associates is here to help, with tens of millions of dollars won for our clients across over a century of combined experience.
Call us at (224) 481-1926 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation today. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay a cent in attorney’s fees unless we win compensation for you.