As a personal injury attorney, I often handle cases where individuals have been injured due to the actions of an employee. In legal terms, this is known as the course of employment, meaning that the injury occurred while the employee was performing their regular job duties. Many people wonder if their employer can be held responsible for injuries caused by a slip and fall accident. The answer is yes, under certain circumstances. If the employee was under the control of the employer at the time of the accident, such as performing designated job duties, then the employer can be held fully responsible for any resulting injuries, losses, or damages.
This is known as vicarious liability, where an employer is held responsible for the actions of their employees. In cases where there was no attempt to clean up a hazardous area or provide warning signs, the employer may also be held liable for negligent injuries. Each state has its own laws regarding surrogacy and how employers can recover benefits paid to an injured employee. If a new employee is not properly trained on hazardous equipment or basic procedures and is injured as a result, the employer may also be held responsible for negligence.If a third party is responsible for maintaining the parking lot where an accident occurs, then the employer may not be held liable. However, it's important to consult with an experienced attorney to determine if there is a case against both the employer and the at-fault party. The sad reality is that millions of workers are injured on the job every year in America.
For example, imagine you slip and fall into a pool of water that was left in your walking path. In this scenario, you may have a case against both the employer and the third party responsible for maintaining the area. If you slip on a wet bathroom floor that was recently cleaned by a customer's service and sustain an injury, you may be able to sue the cleaning company for civil liability. In this case, the injured employee can claim that the third party was negligent in causing their injuries, and the employer's insurance company can seek compensation on their behalf. Depending on the state where the injury occurred, part of any settlement or judgment from a third party may need to be used to reimburse the workers' compensation program and the employer. This is known as subrogation. It's important to note that there are also cases where an employer may not be held liable for employee-caused injuries.
It's crucial to understand when a situation makes an employer responsible for a workplace injury.
