What is strict liability?

Strict liability example: a dog bite in Arizona

Example: you are a guest at a friend's barbecue in Mesa. The neighbor's dog, which has always been calm, slips through the gate and bites your forearm. Stitches, a tetanus shot, follow-up visits and three missed shifts come to $5,000.

Under ordinary negligence, the neighbor might argue the dog had never shown aggression and the gate latch looked fine. Arizona's dog-bite statute cuts that argument off: the owner is liable regardless of the dog's past behavior or the owner's knowledge. Guests count as lawfully on private property under the statute. Your claim then centers on the $5,000 and your scarring, not on whether the neighbor was careful.

Where does strict liability show up in injury claims?

Washington's court glossary describes strict liability mainly in product terms, as a seller's liability for defective or hazardous products. Courts also apply the idea to some other dangerous activities. This page does not cover Texas dog-bite law.

Why does strict liability matter to you?

Proving carelessness is often the hardest and most expensive part of a claim. When strict liability applies, that fight mostly disappears, and the dispute shifts to whether the rule covers your situation, what caused your injury, and how much it cost. Defenses still exist. For example, Arizona's dog statute protects people who are in a public place or lawfully on private property, so a trespasser stands on weaker ground.

Strict liability vs. negligence vs. absolute liability

Negligence asks whether someone acted carelessly. Strict liability does not ask. "Absolute liability" is sometimes used as a synonym, but strict liability still has limits and defenses, so neither term means the defendant always pays.

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