Can I sue someone for bitting me, as well as my employer since this happened while at work?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can I sue someone for bitting me, as well as my employer since this happened while at work?

I was bitten by a shoplifter at work. Can I sue that person an also sue my employer for not having proper security?

Asked on July 29, 2012 under Personal Injury, Virginia

Answers:

Mark Westerfield / The Westerfield Law Firm

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Under Virginia law, you would be able to sue the person who bit you but you would not be able to sue your employer, assuming that you were at work and performing work duties at the time of the incident. Your rights against your employer would be under the workers' compensation statute,  which provides an easier way to prove liability but allows more limited damages. 

In cases such as this, an experienced lawyer will also look for any other possible defendants, so the options here may not be limited to your employer or the biter.

You would have a valid claim against the person who bit you, although it is unclear what defenses might be raised to the claim.  What is equally important is how much injury (both economic and non-economic) was sustained.  For a lawyer to take a case such as this on a contingent fee basis, there would need to be sufficient medical bills, wage loss and possibly permanent injury.  In other words, although you have a claim, you and a lawyer would need to evaluate probable liability and probable damages to decide if it is worthwhile to pursue.

 

Leigh Anne Timiney / Timiney Law Firm

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

It really depends on the facts of the situation in which you were injured.  You definitely have a workers compensation claim which should cover your medical bills and any lost wages you may have had as a result of this injury.  Yes, you can sue the person who bit you.  However, you have to keep in mind that bringing a lawsuit against someone is expensive and time consuming and even if you are able to obtain a judgement in a court against the person who bit you, it doesn't always mean you can collect from them.  Whether or not you have a claim against your employer really depends upon the facts of the situation.  If you can show that your employer knew that security was needed at your place of employment and failed to provide that security, you may have a claim against your employer.  You need to be able to show that your employer owed you a duty, that they breached that duty and that their negligence caused your injury.  


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption