The Toll of Impaired Driving in Vermont
Despite strong DUI enforcement, impaired drivers continue to cause serious crashes across Vermont — on interstates, on rural roads after closing time, and on tourist routes during ski and foliage seasons. Alcohol and drug impairment slows reaction time, impairs judgment, and frequently produces high-speed, head-on, and wrong-way collisions that cause catastrophic injury.
A criminal DUI case and your personal injury claim are separate. Even if the driver is prosecuted, that process is about punishment, not about compensating you. A civil claim is how you recover for your medical bills, lost income, and suffering — and it can proceed regardless of the outcome of any criminal case.
Dram Shop Liability in Vermont
Vermont's Dram Shop Act allows an injured person, in certain circumstances, to hold a bar, restaurant, or other licensed establishment responsible if it served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or to a minor who then caused a crash. This can provide an additional source of recovery beyond the driver's own insurance, which is often important when the driver is underinsured.
These claims have specific notice and proof requirements and must be investigated promptly while evidence — receipts, surveillance footage, and witness memories — is still available. An experienced attorney can determine whether a dram shop claim applies to your case.
Pursuing Full Compensation
Victims of drunk driving crashes may recover the full range of damages, and because the conduct is so reckless, punitive damages may be available in appropriate cases to punish and deter. The general three-year deadline under 12 V.S.A. § 512 applies to the injury claim. A free, confidential review can identify every responsible party.
Injured in Vermont? Get a free, confidential case review today. There's no obligation, and you pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nothing upfront. Our network attorneys work on contingency, so you pay no fee unless they recover compensation for you. The case review is always free.
Generally three years from the date of injury under 12 V.S.A. § 512. Claims involving a government entity under the Vermont Tort Claims Act can have shorter notice deadlines, so it is important to act quickly.
Vermont's modified comparative negligence rule (12 V.S.A. § 1036) lets you recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault.
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Vermont attorney.