strict liability
Fault-free legal accountability
Strict liability is legal responsibility that applies regardless of fault or intent.
In tort law, someone engaged in inherently dangerous activities—like storing explosives or keeping wild animals—is liable for resulting harm even without negligence.
In criminal law, certain offenses require no proof of criminal intent: Selling alcohol to minors is a strict liability offense.
The doctrine shifts focus from the defendant's mental state to the harm caused.
Actionable civil harm
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- product defectFault in manufactured goods
- causationProduction of effects
- damagesCompensation for injury
manufacturer · duty · breach · defectiveness · foreseeability · indemnification · restatement · manufacturing defect
Compensation for injury
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
- harmInjury or damage
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
settlement · restitution · medical expenses · lost wages · pain and suffering · economic loss · punitive damages · compensatory
Fauna capable of harm
- product defectsFlaws in manufactured goods
- explosivesDetonating substances
- toxic chemicalsHarmful manufactured substances
- wild animalsUndomesticated fauna
blasting · nuclear materials · hazardous waste · fireworks · dam failure · crop dusting · fumigation · oil drilling
Prevention via threatened consequences
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- preventionStopping something before occurring
- deep pocketsConsiderable financial reserves
- insuranceContractual risk coverage
Laws defending purchasers' interests
- safety standardsRequired protective measures
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
- public policyGovernment's societal problem-solving approach
- FDAU.S. health regulator
EPA · OSHA · recall · compliance · inspection · labeling requirements · warning labels · manufacturing standards
tort
Actionable civil harm
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- product defectFault in manufactured goods
- causationProduction of effects
damages · manufacturer · duty · breach · defectiveness · foreseeability · indemnification · restatement · manufacturing defect
damages
Compensation for injury
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
- harmInjury or damage
- reparationCompensation for injury done
recovery · settlement · restitution · medical expenses · lost wages · pain and suffering · economic loss · punitive damages · compensatory · victim
dangerous animals
Fauna capable of harm
- product defectsFlaws in manufactured goods
- explosivesDetonating substances
- toxic chemicalsHarmful manufactured substances
wild animals · blasting · nuclear materials · hazardous waste · fireworks · dam failure · crop dusting · fumigation · oil drilling · dog bites
deterrence
Prevention via threatened consequences
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- preventionStopping something before occurring
- deep pocketsConsiderable financial reserves
insurance · moral hazard · public safety · accountability · social cost
consumer protection
Laws defending purchasers' interests
- safety standardsRequired protective measures
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
- public policyGovernment's societal problem-solving approach
FDA · EPA · OSHA · recall · compliance · inspection · labeling requirements · warning labels · manufacturing standards · quality control
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- personal injurypersonal injury, tort, injury claim, bodily harm, harm
- tort lawtort, tort law, negligence, duty of care, breach of duty
- tortstort, negligence, tortfeasor, torts, tort law
- animal liabilitydog bites, dangerous animals, dangerous dogs, animal attacks, attack dogs
- Anti-DopingWADA, banned substances, drug testing, NADA, doping control
strict liabilitynegligence
Failure to exercise care
recklessness · gross negligence · willful misconduct · criminal intent
strict liabilityno liability
Not legally responsible
immunity · safe harbor · assumption of risk · caveat emptor · sovereign immunity
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