Social Host Liability in Pennsylvania
Despite the best efforts of both governmental entities and private interests to combat the problem of underage drinking, it is still fairly common for adults to provide alcohol to minors under the age of 21. This occurs in settings where young adults are hosting parties or when parents decide to share alcoholic beverages with their children or their children’s friends. Under social host liability law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, those persons are legally liable for any and all injuries sustained or caused by the minors to whom they furnished beer, wine, or spirits.
Tragically, an evening that starts with the intention of providing entertainment can leave a family bearing the grief of a child or other loved one’s death. The Pennsylvania wrongful death lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., can help you seek the legal resolution that you are owed in this time of extreme difficulty. Contact us at 610-667-7511.
Dangers of Underage Drinking
In all likelihood, an underage partygoer who receives alcohol from a negligent social host has a low tolerance for the effects of consumption, so he or she will become more quickly intoxicated. Giving even one drink to a minor constitutes a violation of the law, and one drink may be all that is required to lead that minor to engage in behaviors that are reckless or negligent. The deadly effects may include:
- Drunken driving accidents
- Pedestrian accident (being struck because of a failure to note an oncoming vehicle)
- Alcohol poisoning
- Fatal traumatic brain injuries
- Reckless discharge of firearms
Contact Us
We understand that a civil action may be the last thing on your mind in the mist of your present struggles, but there is a limited window of time within which to act. Contact the Pennsylvania wrongful death lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 610-667-7511 to discuss your legal rights.