When a drunk driver causes a deadly crash, the person behind the wheel is not always the only one responsible. If you lost your child this way, the shock can turn into questions, especially if a bar or store served that driver just before the wreck.
In Georgia, businesses that serve alcohol to someone who already appears drunk may be held responsible for what happens next. These cases, called dram shop claims, focus on more than where the drinking took place. The timing—when the driver was served and how soon evidence is collected—often shapes what your case can show.
Types of time-based evidence that matter
Dram shop claims depend on proving that a business served alcohol when it should have stopped. The closer those drinks were to the crash, the more critical the timeline becomes. These types of evidence help establish that sequence:
- Receipts with timestamps: A printed receipt from a bar or convenience store can show the exact time of each transaction. If the total includes several drinks ordered minutes apart, especially close to when the crash occurred, it may support a pattern of rapid over-service.
- Security footage: Most bars and stores use cameras at registers, exits and behind the bar. Footage can show how the driver walked, talked or interacted with staff. Video that shows unsteady movement, slurred speech or refusal of more alcohol can all become relevant, especially if the time codes line up with the sale.
- Witness accounts: People who saw the driver may recall how much they drank, how they behaved or how long they stayed. Staff statements can confirm whether that patron appeared drunk when served, and whether anyone warned the server but the drinks kept coming anyway.
- Digital records: Credit card transaction logs and mobile payment data can confirm when and where purchases occurred. In some cases, rideshare or GPS apps may show whether the driver stayed at one location or visited multiple places before the crash.
Each of these records helps build a timeline that shows what happened leading up to the crash. When combined, they can point to a clear failure to cut off service, even when it should have been obvious.
Delays can complicate your case
Some evidence, such as surveillance footage, may be erased within days. Witness memories also fade, and physical receipts get lost. If you wait too long, the proof you need may be gone for good. Acting early can help you hold the right people accountable before that window closes.