Who’s to blame for sexual harassment?
About 81% of women have experienced sexual harassment at work, and around 43% of men had problems too. While you might think the person doing the harassing is the only guilty party, the truth is your employer can also be held responsible. When the harasser is in a supervisory position, the employer can be charged with a vicarious liability lawsuit.
If the employee wins their case they can wind up walking away with a big settlement reward. However, it’s about more than money, it’s also about getting justice.
What is vicarious liability? It occurs a lot more than you might think, and not only in the workplace. Read on to find out whether or not you have a vicarious liability case.
What’s the Purpose of Vicarious Liability?
Vicarious liability applies in a variety of situations. Examples include the employer/employee relationship, business partnerships, and doctor/patient interactions. You’re even vicariously liable for what happens with your car when you let someone borrow it!
Do You Have a Case?
If you’ve suffered because of someone else’s actions, you may have a vicarious liability case. For instance, individuals injured in truck accidents can sue the driver’s employer on the grounds of vicarious liability. As long as the driver was an on-the-clock employee, performing work duties you could have a case.
Get a Free Legal Opinion
Oftentimes personal injury lawyers will give free consultations, so it’s worth your time to get one to find out whether or not you have a case. The best part is that a lot of personal injury lawyers are willing to work on a contingency basis.
If you don’t receive compensation from your claim, they don’t get paid. Whereas if you do win, the lawyer gets a percentage of your settlement.
What Is Vicarious Liability in the Workplace?
What is vicarious liability for employment offenses? Cyberbullying is a great example of a workplace offense that occurs today.
Employers are responsible for their employee’s actions, and that includes virtual actions. If an employee harasses, bullies, or discriminates against a team member online, the employer and the bully can get in trouble.
“Facebook Firings”, are becoming more prevalent thanks to cyberbullies. About 18% of employers have had to let an employee go because of something they posted on social media.
However, just because the employer fired your cyberbully, that doesn’t mean you can’t still take legal recourse. Take screenshots of any examples of cyberbullying, and reach out to an attorney to find out what steps you should take next.
Seek the Justice You Deserve
Now you know the answer to the question, “what is vicarious liability”. There are people in life you’re supposed to be able to trust, like your employer. When they let you down, and it causes you physical or emotional pain, it’s time to seek justice.
Talk to an attorney today to find out if you’re dealing with a vicarious liability offense. For more helpful tips like these, check out another one of our articles.
