What is vicarious liability?

Vicarious liability refers specifically to a legal doctrine that holds one party liable for the torts committed by another party, typically in the context of an employer-employee relationship. This principle is based on the idea that employers can be held responsible for the actions of their employees when those actions occur within the scope of employment.

This is essential in tort law because it allows injured parties to seek compensation from a responsible party who may have greater financial resources to cover damages, rather than solely from an individual who may lack the means to ensure damages are remedied.

Understanding this concept is important as it distinguishes between direct liability (where one is liable for their own negligent conduct) and vicarious liability, which establishes liability based on a relationship rather than direct fault. Definitions centered on personal negligence or assigning liability directly to an employee do not encompass the broader scope of relationships that vicarious liability covers, thus reinforcing the correctness of identifying vicarious liability as the liability for the torts of another.