Legal Definitions - legal liability

Legal liability refers to the legal responsibility or obligation to another person or society, which can be enforced by civil remedy or criminal punishment. It can also refer to a financial or pecuniary obligation, such as a debt or tax liability.

For example, if a person causes injury to another person due to negligence, they may be held legally liable for the damages caused. This means they are responsible for compensating the injured person for their losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages.

There are different types of legal liability, such as:

• Strict liability: Liability that does not depend on actual negligence or intent to harm, but that is based on the breach of an absolute duty to make something safe. For example, a manufacturer may be held strictly liable for injuries caused by a defective product.
• Vicarious liability: Liability that a supervisory party, such as an employer, bears for the actionable conduct of a subordinate or associate based on the relationship between the two parties. For example, an employer may be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employees while on the job.
• Joint and several liability: Liability that may be apportioned among two or more parties or to only one or a few select members of the group, at the adversary's discretion. For example, if multiple parties are responsible for causing an injury, each party may be held jointly and severally liable for the damages.

Overall, legal liability is an important concept in the legal system as it holds individuals and entities accountable for their actions and helps to ensure that victims are compensated for their losses.