In the state of Connecticut the host of a party may be held liable if someone leaves their party, is drunk, and injures someone in a Connecticut auto accident. This type of accident is tragic and can be devastating for both the driver, the injured person in the other vehicle, as well as the party host who may have not been involved in the accident at all.
If you love throwing parties, especially around the holidays, there is nothing more festive than having your house full of people, but you need to be on the lookout for dangerous behaviors that could lead to injuries or death. One of these activities is excessive drinking and allowing a guest to leave your home when they are intoxicated. Without stopping someone from leaving who is clearly intoxicated, as the host of the party, you may be found liable for any damage or injury they cause on their way from your home.
There is good news. You can take some steps to reduce the likelihood that a party guest could leave your home and cause some irreversible damage. By having a clear head and doing a little pre planning you can make sure you and your guests have a wonderful time and avoid any awkwardness at the end of the night. Take one of the following steps to protect yourself and your guests from any dangerous activities that may result from drinking too much at your party.
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Set a predetermined limit on the number of drinks your guests can have when they come to your house. You can either do this by specifically stating it to your guests or providing the alcohol at your party and then only having available a certain number of drinks per guest.
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Take the keys from all guests. This will help you avoid singling anyone out while also allowing you to control who can or cannot leave your home after having had some drinks at the party. If you determine at the end of the night that someone has had too much to drink you can hang on to their keys and help them call Uber or Lyft to get a ride home and come get their car the next morning.
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Encourage a carpool. This can be done under the guise of the availability of parking at your residence while also allowing you to encourage people to designate a driver before they come to the party. While you will still need to be explicit about the designated driver, you are not specifically calling anyone out at the party.
There are few things that are more enjoyable than gathering friends or family together during the holidays for a party. It can be a wonderful way to get together and enjoy some good food and conversation, but if alcohol is at the center of the party it can lead to some challenges at the end of the night. If a party guest gets into a Connecticut auto accident after they leave your home it could put you in a difficult legal spot. The best way to protect yourself at the end of the night is to be proactive and encourage your guests to stay safe.
If you’ve attended a holiday gathering and were injured on your drive home by a driver coming from another party who was intoxicated you may need an attorney to review your case and work with you to protect your long-term interests. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys can look over the details of your case.
