Getting into a car accident at any time is not pleasant. You can be frustrated by the damage to your vehicle as well as all the injuries that you’ve suffered.
Looking into the case, you probably know that you have a right to make a claim against an at-fault driver when they hit you. Did you know, though, that you may be able to make a claim against their employer as well? There are times when people’s employers can be held liable by law, such as if a driver hits you while they’re traveling for work or doing work on a highway.
Times when employers may be held liable for their employees’ car crashes
Thanks to vicarious liability laws, certain auto accidents may be as much the responsibility of an employer as it is the employee who caused the crash. Vicarious liability is a legal principle that states that employers can be held liable if employees harm others while working.
For example, if you’re driving in a work zone and one of the people working there backs their vehicle out into the lane you’re traveling in, their actions may cause a crash. Their employer may be liable for their actions just as they may be liable for blocking your route unexpectedly.
Another good example is if a driver is heading to a client’s home while on the clock. While they’re on the clock, anything that happens when they’re in the vehicle could be the employer’s responsibility. It’s even easier to prove vicarious liability if you can show that they were in a company vehicle at the time of the collision.
There are times when employers aren’t liable, too
There are a few circumstances when employers wouldn’t be liable for injuries. If the worker is going to or from work, they’re not on the clock. As a result, the employer won’t be liable. Similarly, if the person is an independent contractor, then the “employer” is actually a client and can’t be held liable in most cases.
These are a few things you should know about suing for a car crash. Depending on the situation, you may have a few options for seeking compensation.
