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The employer's inexcusable fault: the Court of Cassation focuses more on the damage than on the cause of the accident
Prevention is better than cure!
About the decision of the second civil chamber of the Court of Cassation of 19 June 2019
(Court of Cassation, 2nd Civil Division, 20 June 2019, No. 18-19.175)
Under the terms of Article L. 452-1 of the French Social Security Code, employers are bound by their employment contracts to their employees by an obligation to ensure the safety of their employees, particularly with regard to accidents at work. Failure to comply with this obligation constitutes a inexcusable fault where the employer was or should have been aware of the danger to which the employee was exposed and did not take the necessary measures to protect him.
Through the litigation of inexcusable fault, the Court of Cassation censures the employer's negligence in implementing measures intended to ensure the protection of the integrity of its employees.
In this case, Mr W…, a heavy goods vehicle driver, was the victim of a traffic accident after lost control of his vehicle and was thrown from the passenger compartment through the windshield. This accident was covered under professional legislation by the Tarn Primary Health Insurance Fund, meaning it was recognized as a work-related accident.
Mr W. therefore brought an action before a court of social security an action for recognition of his employer's inexcusable fault.
In order to demonstrate that the vehicle was safe, the employer tried to defend itself by arguing that the technical inspection had not revealed any defects.
While the Court of Appeal upheld the employer's claims, the Court of Cassation held that the claimant had been ejected from the windscreen and that, consequently, the seatbelt had necessarily contributed to the damage.
In other words, the Court of Cassation recalls that inexcusable fault does not have to be the determining cause of the accident. It is sufficient that the employer's failure to act participated, in one way or another, in causing the damage.
It can be seen that the Judges were more concerned with the consequence of the accident than with the cause of the accident.
The very strict assessment of the employer's obligation of safety of result, which makes it possible to engage its liability even if its failure is not the determining cause of the accident, seems to be far removed from the shift created by the decision of 25 November 2015 (Cass. soc. 25 November 2015, "Air France", No. 14-24444) by which the Court had operated a mutation of the obligation of safety of result towards a reinforced obligation of means, thus attenuating the obligation of safety weighing on the employer.
We find, underlyingly, the objective conception of the employer's responsibility arising from the Law of April 9, 1898 on the responsibilities for accidents of which workers are victims in their work that allowed employees to claim compensation without having to prove their employer's fault.
Beware of the severity of the Court of Cassation in matters of inexcusable fault!
Employers, "Prevention is better than cure" and be well support in managing employees.
Frequently asked questions
Qu’est-ce que la faute inexcusable de l’employeur ?
La faute inexcusable est une faute d’une gravité exceptionnelle commise par l’employeur, qui avait ou aurait dû avoir conscience du danger auquel était exposé le salarié et qui n’a pas pris les mesures nécessaires pour l’en préserver. Elle ouvre droit à une majoration de la rente accident du travail et à une indemnisation complémentaire.
Quels sont les délais pour agir en reconnaissance de faute inexcusable ?
L’action en reconnaissance de faute inexcusable doit être intentée dans un délai de 2 ans à compter de la consolidation de l’état de la victime (ou du décès). Passé ce délai, l’action est prescrite. Il est donc essentiel de consulter rapidement un avocat.
Puis-je contester le refus de la CPAM de reconnaître la faute inexcusable ?
Oui, vous pouvez contester la décision de la CPAM devant le pôle social du tribunal judiciaire. Il est recommandé de se faire assister par un avocat spécialisé pour maximiser vos chances d’obtenir une indemnisation majorée.
Quelle est la différence entre faute inexcusable et faute intentionnelle ?
La faute inexcusable est une faute grave mais non intentionnelle, contrairement à la faute intentionnelle où l’employeur a volontairement causé le dommage. La faute inexcusable permet une majoration de la rente, tandis que la faute intentionnelle ouvre droit à une indemnisation intégrale du préjudice.
Que faire si mon employeur ne respecte pas les règles de sécurité ?
Vous devez signaler tout manquement à l’inspection du travail et conserver des preuves (photos, témoignages). En cas d’accident, vous pouvez demander la reconnaissance de faute inexcusable. Consultez un avocat pour évaluer votre situation et engager les démarches nécessaires.
