If a member of a security staff security is chasing a person and accidentally injures another person, can a claim be filed?

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If a member of a security staff security is chasing a person and accidentally injures another person, can a claim be filed?

My mom was injured by a member of a security staff, who was chasing a person. Is there a case involved this. The employee pushed my mother out of the way and she fell onto a hydrant. She was hurt and sent to the hospital. The injuries were not severe, but she did not work the next day. This is the gist of it and I just want to know if my mom can seek any possible legal action?

Asked on October 24, 2010 under Personal Injury, Massachusetts

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 13 years ago | Contributor

Your mom could potentially sue either the guard or the employer.

1) When person either deliberately or carelessly (negligently) injures another person, the one causing the injury may be at fault or an liable for the harm he causes. Pushing your mom out of the way could be an intentional or negligent act (depending on circumstances) giving rise to liability.

2) An employer is liable for the actions of its staff done in the course of employment--so, for example, a security guard or other security staff member chasing someone as part of his security job.

However, what you can sue for and recover is limited to the harm suffered--so, for example, medical costs and a lost day's wages, which may not be worth actually suing for. It might be worth contacting the employer and seeing if they'll agree to give you mom something as settlement for her trouble and pain, to avoid and possibility of being sued.


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.

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