What is strict liability?

Strict liability refers to a legal standard in which a person or entity can be held liable for harm or damages regardless of whether there was any intent to cause such harm or negligence. This means that individuals can face accountability for both intentional actions and unintentional actions, as long as those actions resulted in harm.

The rationale for strict liability often applies in cases involving inherently dangerous activities or defective products. For example, if a company manufactures a faulty product that injures a consumer, the company can be held strictly liable for the damages even if it took all possible precautions during the manufacturing process. The key aspect is that the law recognizes certain activities as so dangerous that the mere act of engaging in them is enough to warrant legal responsibility for any resulting harm.

This concept contrasts with only holding individuals accountable for negligent or intentional conduct, which would exclude responsibility if a party was careful and did not mean to cause harm. Thus, the correct understanding of strict liability encompasses the totality of responsibility for both types of actions, making option C the most accurate choice.