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Strict Liability: Negligence Or Harm

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Strict liability is a legal doctrine that makes a person or company responsible for their actions or products which cause damages regardless of any negligence or fault on their part. A plaintiff filing a personal injury lawsuit under a strict liability law does not need to show intentional or negligent conduct, only that the defendant's action triggered strict liability and that the plaintiff suffered harm. Whether or not a tort action is considered strict liability and what damages are appropriate will depend on your state law, so consult an experienced personal injury attorney prior to filing a strict liability tort. Strict liability often applies when people engage in what is called inherently dangerous activities. There are many factors a court will use to determine whether or not an activity is inherently dangerous. Some activities, such as transportation or use of heavy explosives or dangerous chemicals, are inherently dangerous in any circumstance. Other activities …show more content…

The same general principles apply: an act plus a harm, regardless of intent, equals liability. Speeding is a good example of a strict liability offense. Statutes allow for drivers to be ticketed and punished for the strict liability offense of speeding, even when the driver was merely reckless about monitoring his own speed. A plaintiff in a civil cause of action must generally show three things to establish a strict liability offense. The first is that a defendant, which can be a person or a company, did something that was inherently dangerous and unreasonable under the circumstances. The plaintiff must then show that the inherently dangerous act caused something bad to happen to the plaintiff. Finally, the plaintiff must show they actually suffered harm as a result of their injury. If a plaintiff cannot show an actual harm, such as a physical injury, they may not be able to make their strict liability

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