What is Liability?

In the state of North Carolina, there are laws imposing liability on individuals and companies for certain acts of negligence or wrongdoing. For example, Chapter 99B sets forth product liability laws.

Anyone who has been damaged, physically or financially, needs to know what liability means and how to prove liability in a particular case.  Liability simply means having an obligation or a legal responsibility and facing consequences for not fulfilling that responsibility.

For example, a manufacturer may be held legally liable if the manufacturer releases a product with a design flaw that causes harm to a product user. The driver of a car may be held liable if the driver fails to follow the rules of the road and a car accident occurs.

Someone who is harmed by wrongdoing, like a person hurt in a car crash, will need to make a legal claim and prove liability for losses in order to obtain compensation for the harm. A car accident victim, for example, can file a court case in civil court to hold a manufacturer liable for an injury that resulted due to a product’s design flaw.  The goal would be for the manufacturer to pay for all damages resulting from the flaw.

When a victim pursues a claim to hold a defendant liable in a court case, it is up to the victim to prove liability by a preponderance of the evidence. This means showing that, more likely than not, the defendant’s failure to fulfill a legal obligation was the direct cause of losses or damages. A Charlotte auto accident lawyer can provide help in proving liability so victims harmed by negligence or wrongdoing can obtain compensation for damages