When an employee commits an act of violence or sexual assault, the company that hired them might share legal responsibility. That depends on what the employer knew, what they ignored, and whether the assault occurred within the scope of the job.
If you’re asking whether you can sue a company if their employee assaults you, a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can help clarify your options. These cases often involve more than just one person’s wrongdoing—they can expose failures in hiring, supervision, or safety policies.
The law gives survivors tools to protect their rights, demand accountability from institutions, and pursue meaningful steps toward justice.
How a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Hold Employers Accountable
Some companies hire workers without proper screening or keep them on despite serious misconduct. Others ignore complaints, skip background checks, or allow unsafe conditions to persist. When abuse happens in that environment, the employer may share responsibility.
A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can examine the facts. Did the company overlook red flags? Did the abuse happen during work hours or in connection with the employee’s job? Did internal policies silence or intimidate survivors?
Employers may try to deflect blame. But civil courts give survivors the power to challenge those failures and seek accountability on their own terms.
When Is a Company Responsible for Employee Assault?
Whether a company can be held liable often depends on how and when the assault occurred. California law allows survivors to bring claims against businesses under certain legal theories:
- Negligent hiring: The employer failed to vet the employee and missed red flags.
- Negligent supervision: The employer knew, or should have known, the employee posed a risk but failed to act.
- Respondeat superior: The company may be held responsible if the abuse happened while the employee was performing job duties.
Each situation is unique. Your attorney can gather records, internal complaints, witness statements, and other evidence that may point to company negligence.
Can You Sue a Company if Their Employee Assaults You Off-Site or After Hours?
An employer’s responsibility doesn’t always stop when the shift ends. When companies sponsor retreats, parties, or work-related travel—and abuse happens in those settings—they may still carry legal accountability. That’s especially true if they created or tolerated an environment where misconduct could thrive.
Some supervisors use their role to pressure clients or coworkers beyond office walls. Others ignore complaints, dismiss concerns, or let abusive behavior continue. Those choices matter. A pattern of misconduct doesn’t need to happen on company property to qualify for civil liability.
You may still wonder: Can you sue a company if their employee assaults you outside of work hours? In some cases, the answer is yes. Your lawyer can walk you through what courts look for and what the next steps could look like.
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What About Independent Contractors or Gig Workers?
Even if the person who assaulted you wasn’t a full-time employee, the company that hired or contracted with them may still be liable in some cases.
For example:
- Rideshare companies or delivery services that failed to remove dangerous drivers
- Medical offices that allowed unlicensed assistants to interact with patients
- Massage studios or salons that hired unqualified practitioners
Some companies structure their workforce to avoid liability, but that doesn’t always work in court. If the business controlled the person’s schedule, tools, and access to customers, they may still be held responsible.
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Legal Options After an Employee Assaults You in Los Angeles
If you’ve experienced abuse by someone working for a company, you may have several paths forward:
- Civil lawsuit against the perpetrator and the company
- A settlement or resolution that avoids court
- Protective orders or Title IX remedies if the setting was educational
- Filing a report with the police, though criminal charges are not required for a civil case
A Los Angeles personal injury attorney can help you weigh each path and choose what’s right for your personal healing and goals.
California’s Lookback Window May Apply to Your Case
California lawmakers created Assembly Bill 2777 to give adult survivors of sexual abuse more time to come forward. This law opened a separate legal window from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026.
Under California’s lookback window, you may still have time to file a civil lawsuit—even if the original statute of limitations passed, as long as the assault happened on or after January 1, 2009.
If the company tried to hide or cover up what happened, you may have had a shorter deadline under the one-year institutional window, which ended in 2023. But many claims still qualify.
How to Prove a Company Failed to Protect You
You don’t need to prove the company intended harm. In civil cases, the bar is much lower than it is in criminal court. Some examples of evidence that can strengthen your case:
- Emails, texts, or documents showing prior complaints
- HR records or internal investigations
- A pattern of abuse or misconduct by the same employee
- Surveillance footage or security logs
- Witnesses who saw or reported similar behavior
The company may try to withhold information or intimidate you. But a strong legal team can demand those records and fight for transparency.
You Don’t Need Physical Evidence to Be Taken Seriously
It’s common to wonder whether a lack of photos, messages, or witnesses will stop your case from moving forward. The answer is no.
Survivors often wait months or years to come forward, and that delay doesn’t discredit their story. What matters most is your experience—and your willingness to speak up.
You have every right to ask questions, seek protection, and explore your legal options. A good lawyer will believe you and investigate the facts without pressure.
When You’re Ready, a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Is Here
Whether the assault happened at a store, in a school, during an Uber ride, or inside a care facility, someone should have stepped in. If they didn’t, you have the right to hold them accountable.
At Arias Sanguinetti | Trial Lawyers, we’ve helped survivors take action against both individuals and the institutions that enabled them. With over 300 years of combined experience and well over $1.5 billion recovered, we’ve stood beside people just like you.
We will do everything in our power to protect your safety and privacy. When you’re ready, a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer from our team is here to listen—and to act.
Call or text 310-844-9696 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
