Personal Injury Discrimination

Unlawful discrimination, under federal civil rights laws, generally refers to unfair or unequal treatment of a person, group, class or category of people based on:

  • Age
  • Race
  • Color
  • Nationality
  • Religion
  • Gender
  • Family status
  • Disability

The following Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws protect against job discrimination and are enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
  • The Equal Pay Act of 1963 protects men and women who perform substantially equal work in the same establishment from sex-based wage discrimination
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older
  • Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the private sector, and in state and local governments
  • Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities who work in the federal government
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1991 provides monetary damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination
  • There are also federal laws not enforced by EEOC that prohibit discrimination and reprisal against federal employees and applicants

These acts protect against:

  • Racial discrimination
  • Age discrimination
  • Gender discrimination
  • Workplace discrimination
  • Religious discrimination

Discrimination may take place on the job, or you may encounter discrimination in a place of business. If you are treated unfairly as a customer you may be compensated for your personal injury. While separate from sexual harassment, both offenses hold the guilty parties responsible for monetary damages. Injury lawyers can help.

Also, taking action against a discriminating party will also help others. If you don’t stand up for your rights, who will? Without action, others may also be discriminated against again in the future.

Discrimination May Be Direct or Indirect

Direct discrimination refers to situations in which a person is treated differently or less favorably than another person in a comparable situation solely because of their age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status or disability.

Indirect discrimination refers to situations in which the discrimination is not as blatant, yet still exists. An instance of indirect discrimination might involve putting forth a requirement that puts a certain group of people at a disadvantage.

Either way, the offending person, party, group or organization may be responsible for damages caused by their practices.

Speak With a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been a victim of discrimination, it may be beneficial to speak with a personal injury lawyer about your case. Filing a discrimination lawsuit may help prevent further abuses of civil rights. A lawyer can answer questions about your case, but the law places time limits on discrimination claims, so you must act quickly to protect your rights.

To contact a personal injury lawyer today, call 877-288-7564 or fill out our free case evaluation form and we will connect you with a local lawyer for a no-obligation consultation.

The above summary of discrimination laws is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may have changed since our last update. For current information on discrimination laws, contact a local attorney.