Who Is Liable When a Drunk Driver Hits You in Granada Hills?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local Granada Hills Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He attended nearby El Camino Real High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured clients across the north Valley communities including Granada Hills.

When a drunk driver hits you in Granada Hills, the driver is obviously liable. But the driver may not be the only party responsible for your injuries. Depending on the circumstances, the establishment that served the driver alcohol, the driver's employer, and even social hosts who provided alcohol may also share liability. Identifying all liable parties maximizes the insurance coverage available for your claim and ensures every responsible party is held accountable.

The Drunk Driver's Liability

The drunk driver is the primary liable party. Driving while intoxicated is both a criminal offense and a civil wrong. If the driver who hit you on Balboa Blvd, Chatsworth St, Zelzah Ave, or any other Granada Hills road was impaired by alcohol, they are liable for all damages caused by the crash.

The driver's liability is established through evidence of intoxication, including blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results, field sobriety test results, the police officer's observations documented in the LAPD or CHP report, and witness testimony about the driver's behavior before the crash.

A BAC at or above the legal limit of 0.08 creates a strong presumption of impairment. BAC results significantly above the limit, such as 0.15 or 0.20, demonstrate extreme intoxication and support claims for punitive damages. The driver's liability insurance, typically their auto policy, is the first source of compensation for your injuries.

Bar and Restaurant Liability (Dram Shop)

California's approach to dram shop liability is more limited than many other states. Under California Business and Professions Code Section 25602, bars and restaurants are generally not liable for injuries caused by a patron who became intoxicated on their premises. The law places responsibility on the person who consumed the alcohol, not the establishment that served it.

However, there is one important exception. Under Business and Professions Code Section 25602.1, a bar or restaurant can be held liable if it served alcohol to an obviously intoxicated minor (someone under 21). If the drunk driver who hit you was under 21 and was served alcohol at a Granada Hills bar, restaurant, or establishment, that establishment may share liability for your injuries.

Even when the statutory exception does not apply, your attorney may investigate whether the establishment violated other regulations, such as serving alcohol after hours or serving someone who was visibly incapacitated, to build a negligence claim based on the specific facts.

Social Host Liability

Similar to commercial establishments, social hosts in California are generally not liable for serving alcohol to adult guests who then cause drunk driving accidents. California courts have placed responsibility on the individual who chose to drink and drive rather than the host who provided the alcohol.

The exception, again, involves minors. If a social host in Granada Hills provided alcohol to a minor who then drove drunk and caused an accident, the social host may be liable. This is particularly relevant for house parties and other social gatherings where underage drinking occurs.

Employer Liability

If the drunk driver was operating a vehicle in the course of their employment at the time of the crash, the employer may be vicariously liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior. This applies when the driver was performing work duties, traveling between work locations, or using a company vehicle.

Employer liability can also arise directly if the employer knew the employee had a drinking problem or a history of DUI and failed to take action, if the employer required the employee to attend a work event where alcohol was served and then allowed or expected the employee to drive, or if the employer failed to conduct adequate background checks that would have revealed prior DUI convictions.

Employer liability is significant because employers typically carry commercial insurance policies with much higher limits than personal auto policies, providing a substantially larger source of compensation.

Proving Liability in a Granada Hills DUI Case

Your attorney builds the liability case using evidence from multiple sources. The police report from LAPD or CHP documents the crash and the officer's observations of the driver's intoxication. BAC test results from blood or breath testing establish the level of impairment. The criminal DUI case file provides additional evidence, including any prior DUI convictions. Witness testimony from other drivers, passengers, and anyone who observed the driver before the crash establishes the driver's behavior. Surveillance footage from Granada Hills businesses may capture the driver leaving an establishment or driving erratically before the crash.

Medical records from Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills document your injuries and connect them to the crash. If a lawsuit is filed, it is heard at the Chatsworth Courthouse.

Contact a Granada Hills Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

If a drunk driver hit you in Granada Hills, contact a Granada Hills drunk driving accident lawyer at L&F Brown for a free consultation. We investigate every potential source of liability and pursue maximum compensation, including punitive damages. Visit our Granada Hills page to learn more. We work on a contingency fee basis with no upfront cost to you.

Punitive Damages in Granada Hills Drunk Driving Cases

Unlike standard car accident cases, drunk driving accident claims in Granada Hills may qualify for punitive damages under California Civil Code Section 3294. Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant for particularly egregious conduct and deter similar behavior. Driving while intoxicated, especially with a high blood alcohol concentration or a history of prior DUI offenses, can meet the standard of "malice, fraud, or oppression" required for punitive damages.

Punitive damages are not subject to the same caps that apply in other states. In California, the amount is determined by the jury based on the severity of the defendant's conduct, the harm caused to the victim, and the defendant's financial resources. Awards can be substantial, particularly when the drunk driver has a prior DUI history or an extremely high BAC at the time of the crash on Balboa Blvd, Chatsworth St, Zelzah Ave, and Rinaldi St.

Your attorney builds the punitive damages case by obtaining the defendant's criminal history, blood alcohol test results, prior DUI convictions, and any evidence of prior alcohol-related incidents. If the defendant was served alcohol at a bar or restaurant while visibly intoxicated, a claim against the establishment under California's dram shop law (Business and Professions Code Section 25602) may also be available, providing an additional source of recovery.

Criminal proceedings against the drunk driver are handled separately from your civil claim. A DUI conviction or guilty plea can be used as evidence in your civil case, but you do not have to wait for the criminal case to conclude before pursuing compensation. Medical treatment at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills and ongoing care costs form the foundation of your damages claim. If your case goes to litigation, it is heard at Chatsworth Courthouse.

Reach out to a Granada Hills injury lawyer at L&F Brown today. We offer free consultations for drunk driving accident victims and work on contingency, meaning you owe nothing unless we secure compensation on your behalf.