Almost ten years ago, Kingston, NY had the dubious honor of being named the “Drunkest City” by virtue of having the most bars per capita in New York. Although it’s not clear whether that’s still the case, it is clear that the Mid-Hudson Valley, with its emphasis on craft brewing, dining and tourism in general, that there are many people enjoying a cocktail or two in our region.
If you’ve been injured at a bar or restaurant in the Mid-Hudson Valley, or suffered a loss in an accident involving a drunk or impaired driver, we can help you receive the maximum possible compensation for your injuries. Give us a call at 845-600-0000 to schedule a free personal injury consultation at our offices in Kingston, NY, Poughkeepsie, NY or New Windsor, NY.
This article is about two of the consequences of our bar and restaurant scene:
What happens if you slip and fall, or sustain an injury at a bar or restaurant in New York State?
All property owners, and businesses especially, owe their customers and visitors a duty of care to provide a safe environment while they’re on the property. Property owners must repair known hazards and reasonably inspect for and remedy unknown hazards as they pop up.
One of the most common injuries that happens in New York State bars and restaurants are slip and falls, where someone will lose their balance and fall due to unsafe conditions at a restaurant. This could happen due to weather conditions creating slushy, wet hazards on the floor, or the after-effects of cleaning/mopping, but at one of the Mid-Hudson Valley’s many bars, it can also result from spilled drinks that weren’t cleaned up.
At nightclubs, it is also a common event that assaults can injure patrons, either resulting from altercations with other patrons, or the excessive use by bouncers and other security staff. Nightclubs and bars have a duty to provide a safe environment for their customers, and if you were injured in a nightclub or a bar, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
To investigate these claims, we may look through any available police and incident reports, seek and interview witnesses, secure and review any available security footage, gather and review incident and medical records, inspect the premises and attempt to recreate the conditions of the accident, and consult with experts.
What happens if you are involved in an accident with a drunk or impaired driver in New York State?
Regardless of the conditions of any car crash injuries, to begin, New York is a “no-fault state.” For economic and medical damages up to $50,000 it does not matter who was at fault for a car crash.
If your damages and losses are more than $50,000, then you could have a legal claim against the driver (and their insurance liability coverage) who caused the crash. If the other driver is facing criminal charges for being drunk at the scene of an accident, it could help establish their negligence in a personal injury case.
If you were injured by a drunk driver and discovered that they were unlawfully served alcohol at a bar, you may also have grounds to sue the bar for your damages. The crucial aspect is proving that the alcohol was served illegally. If the driver was under 21, any sale of alcohol to them is illegal. However, if the driver was over 21, you must demonstrate that they were visibly intoxicated when served, and the bar or restaurant should have known not to serve them, which can be difficult but isn’t impossible.
Dutchess County: Impaired Driving by the Numbers
According to the latest data from Apify, there are at least 320 bars, restaurants and other businesses that serve drinks in Dutchess County. Some of the booziest towns include:
- City/Town of Poughkeepsie: 79 Alcohol-Serving Venues
- Beacon: 32 Alcohol-Serving Venues
- Rhinebeck: 26 Alcohol-Serving Venues
- Hopewell Junction: 19 Alcohol-Serving Venues
- Red Hook: 19 Alcohol-Serving Venues
According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research, impaired driving tickets in Dutchess County have gone up from 2020 to 2023 by 13%, while impaired driving crashes have increased by 20.7%. Thankfully, impaired driving injuries have remained even despite the increase in crashes.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impaired Driving Tickets | 1477 | 1601 | 1477 | 1674 |
| Impaired Driving Crashes | 198 | 208 | 229 | 239 |
| Impaired Driving Injuries | 85 | 76 | 77 | 84 |
Orange County: Impaired Driving by the Numbers
According to the latest data from Apify, there are at least 360 bars, restaurants and other businesses that serve drinks in Ulster County. Some of the booziest towns include:
- City/Town of Newburgh: 71 Venues
- Middletown: 55 Venues
- Warwick: 36 Venues
- Goshen: 17 Venues
- Monroe: 17 Venues
According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research, impaired driving tickets in Orange County have gone up from 2020 to 2023 by 14%, while impaired driving crashes have gone up by 37%. Impaired driving injuries have actually increased by 25% since 2020.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impaired Driving Tickets | 2549 | 2959 | 3025 | 2906 |
| Impaired Driving Crashes | 282 | 311 | 388 | 387 |
| Impaired Driving Injuries | 104 | 129 | 136 | 130 |
Ulster County: Impaired Driving by the Numbers
According to the latest data from Apify, there are at least 360 bars, restaurants and other businesses that serve drinks in Ulster County. Some of the booziest towns include:
- City/Town of Kingston: 87 Venues
- New Paltz: 48 Venues
- Saugerties: 35 Venues
- Woodstock: 25 Venues
- Stone Ridge: 14 Venues
According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research, impaired driving tickets in Ulster County have gone up from 2020 to 2023 by 23%, while impaired driving crashes have remained even. Impaired driving injuries have actually gone done by 20% since 2020.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impaired Driving Tickets | 1361 | 1676 | 2090 | 1685 |
| Impaired Driving Crashes | 188 | 188 | 192 | 191 |
| Impaired Driving Injuries | 69 | 64 | 71 | 55 |