legal responsibility
Duty under law
Legal responsibility is the state of being accountable under the law for one's actions or obligations.
It encompasses duties to act or refrain from acting, and liability for consequences when those duties are breached.
A parent has legal responsibility for a child's welfare; a driver has legal responsibility to operate safely.
The term appears in contracts, torts, and criminal law: The company denied legal responsibility for the spill.
Distinct from moral responsibility, which may exist without legal consequence.
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- duty of careObligation to act reasonably
- tortActionable civil harm
personal injury · fiduciary duty · strict liability · criminal liability · penalty · causation · burden of proof · restitution · regulation · enforceability · hold harmless · breach of duty · due diligence · good faith · punitive damages · professional misconduct · assumption of risk · fine
- criminal complicityaccomplice, accessory, aiding and abetting, co-conspirator, complicity
- criminal liabilitycriminal liability, culpability, mens rea, criminal intent, blameworthiness
- workplace liabilityworkplace injury, workplace accidents, workplace injuries, employer duties, liability insurance
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- alcohol lawsdrunk driving, DUI, BAC, drinking age, blood alcohol
- child custodychild custody, custody order, shared custody, sole custody, joint custody
legal responsibilitylegal immunity
Protection from prosecution
immunity · exemption · impunity · non-liability · indemnity
legal responsibilitymoral responsibility
Ethical answerability for actions
moral obligation · ethical responsibility · ethical duty · social responsibility · moral accountability
legal responsibilityincompetence
Lack of required skill
diminished capacity · non compos mentis · innocence · guiltlessness · exculpation