Illinois Lawyer Referrals and Legal Guidance
Injuries From Minors Being Served Alcohol at Parties
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It’s not uncommon for parents to allow their teenage children to drink in their home and sometimes friends of their kids too. Many do it under the theory that if it’s in their home at least they can control it and keep an eye it. Even so it’s illegal. Illinois law not only prohibits adults from providing alcohol to minors, but it holds these adults and parents responsible for any harm that is caused as a result.
Teenage parties are a common example. A parent either provides or allows alcohol at the party, and someone gets hurt. The parents are on the hook, not only for an injury to a minor that occurs at their home, but for injuries that happen after an impaired minor leaves their property, as well. They are responsible for the minor’s injuries, as well as injuries caused to others by an impaired minor.
For many underage drinkers, it can be easy to get pressured into drinking more than they can handle. Alcohol poisoning can cause permanent injury and even death. If your minor child was injured in this way at a party where parents allowed or provided alcohol, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the host parents, or even a wrongful death lawsuit if the drinking had tragic consequences.
Drunk driving is another example. If your minor child was injured in a drunk-driving accident after a house party – regardless of whether they were the driver or a passenger – you can file suit against the parent or adult who provided or allowed the alcohol. Even if your child was the one drinking and driving and they only injured themselves, you can sue for your child’s injuries. The law puts all of the responsibility on the adult in these situations, not the minor. If your child was a passenger, you can file suit against the party host, as well. If the impaired minor injures another driver on the road – the parents can be sued by the other driver or anyone else hurt in the accident.
There are a handful of attorneys in Illinois with significant experience in this type of personal injury case. Personal injury attorneys generally charge a contingency fee, which means you only pay if you win. If you lose, you pay nothing. The damages available in this type of case include medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, attorney’s fees and even punitive damages. If a claim is successful, recovery would likely come from the defendant’s homeowners’ insurance.
In addition to the civil liability, a parent who provides alcohol or allows minors to drink at their home can be charged with a misdemeanor. If serious injury or death results, it can be a felony. If you are in this situation, you need to talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney.
We know attorneys throughout Illinois with extensive experience in personal injury law, specifically cases where minors are injured after drinking at a friend’s house. If you need a referral to one of these attorneys, please contact us. We will speak with you for free to find you the best lawyer for your situation.