$705,000 Settlement in Monmouth County, New Jersey Dram Shop Lawsuit

A plaintiff motorist and her passenger recently accepted $705,000 to settle claims arising from a head-on collision caused by a drunken driver. Plaintiff and her mother were driving in Howell, NJ when a drunk driver attempting to make a left turn crossed into their lane and caused the accident. The driver of the offending vehicle had been drinking at a bar in Farmingdale, NJ and had a blood alcohol content of .23 after the accident. The plaintiff driver sustained a fractured femur and rib, among other injuries while the passenger primarily sustained soft tissue injuries. In addition to a claim against the negligent driver, the suit contained a dram shop claim against the bar that served alcohol to the drunk driver. The case settled during pre-trial mediation.