ABA Family Legal Guide

Personal Injury

Strict Liability

Is there any other basis for liability besides negligence?

Courts hold some people or companies strictly liable for certain activities that harm others, even when they have not acted negligently or with wrongful intent.

For example, people or companies engaged in blasting, storing dangerous, toxic substances, or keeping dangerous animals can be strictly liable for harm caused to others. Strict liability standards also apply in other areas of personal injury, such as workplace accidents. The most prominent example of strict liability is in product liability cases--holding manufacturers liable for injuries their products cause. (For more information on product liability, see page 542.)