What does vicarious liability mean?

Vicarious liability refers to a legal doctrine whereby one party can be held responsible for the negligent actions of another party, typically in an employer-employee relationship. This principle recognizes that an employer can be held liable for the actions of its employees if those actions occur within the scope of their employment.

In the context of this definition, if an employee causes harm to a third party while performing duties related to their job, the employer may be held accountable for the employee’s negligent behavior. This ensures that victims have a viable path to seek compensation from a party that has greater financial resources, rather than solely from an individual who may not be able to pay damages.

The other options do not relate to the concept of vicarious liability. Immunity from lawsuits suggests protection from legal action, while liability for direct actions refers to being responsible only for one's own conduct. Passing blame to others does not accurately describe the legal framework underpinning vicarious liability; instead, this concept specifically addresses the situations in which one party can be held responsible for another's negligent actions.