Every year, many people throw parties at their houses and public places for New Years Eve celebrations, but do you know what you are liable for? If a guest leaves your party drunk and causes an accident, could you be held liable?
Myrtle Beach attorney Billy Monckton says no, but there are exceptions.
If a guest is underage and causes an accident, you could be held both civilly and criminally liable, even if you didn't know that guest was a minor.
Regardless of liability, Monckton says it's a good idea for hosts to keep an eye on what's happening at their parties.
"If people are obviously over-served, get them a cab, let them stay at the house. The repercussions of what happens when something goes bad are traumatic," says Monckton.
Monckton also says if you purposely try to get a guest drunk or openly encourage over-drinking, there could be an argument for gross negligence, if a guest causes an accident.
