What is the doctrine of strict liability?

The doctrine of strict liability is a legal doctrine applied to dangerous products law in California. It holds that a product manufacturer, distributor, or seller can be held responsible for any damages caused by a product regardless of the precautions they took when manufacturing, distributing, or selling the product. Strict liability holds manufacturers, distributors, and sellers liable for damages even if they were not negligent or at fault. This is in contrast to ordinary negligence, where a person is only held liable for damages if it can be proven that they were negligent, either in their behavior or in the product itself. Under the doctrine of strict liability, the only thing that needs to be proven for a plaintiff to win a dangerous products case is that the product was defective or unsafe in some way. The plaintiff does not need to prove that the manufacturer, distributor, or seller was negligent. Additionally, the plaintiff does not need to prove that they were actually injured by the product. In California, the level of fault needed to be found liable for product damages is quite low. This is because the doctrine of strict liability is heavily favored by the courts, who believe that it will help protect consumers from the risks of dangerous products. By imposing strict liability for damages caused by a product, manufacturers, distributors, and sellers are incentivized to produce and market products that are as safe as possible.

Related FAQs

What is an “abnormal use” defense to a product liability claim?
When can I file a claim under Dangerous Products Law?
What types of injury can be caused by a defective product?
What types of damages can I receive if I win a products liability lawsuit?
How can I prove that a manufacturer was negligent in a product liability case?
Are there limits to the amount of damages that I can receive if I win a product liability lawsuit?
What is a “pre-emptive” defense to a product liability claim?
What is a “state of the art” defense to a product liability claim?
Can I sue for emotional distress caused by a defective product?
What actions can I take if I am injured by a defective product?

What is the doctrine of strict liability?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts