Who may be held vicariously liable?

Vicarious liability refers to a legal principle where one party can be held liable for the negligent actions of another party, based on their relationship. In the context of this question, parents can indeed be held vicariously liable for the actions of their minor children. This stems from the idea that parents have a responsibility to supervise and control their children, and if a child were to cause harm while acting under the influence of parental guidance or supervision, the parents may be held accountable for those actions.

In contrast, individuals who directly cause harm (the first option) are responsible for their own actions and may not fall under the definition of vicarious liability since that principle typically applies to third parties rather than direct actors. Independent contractors (the third option) usually do not create vicarious liability for the hiring party, as their relationships are generally more transactional and do not usually imply a supervisory capacity. The option stating that none of the above applies is incorrect because it negates the established legal principle that allows for parental liability in these circumstances.