Who Is Liable?

When someone gets hurt, someone else is usually at fault. It can be a simple case of someone running a red light, or a might involve a more complicated sequence of events. Some cases make it easy to figure out where to lay the blame, but most are fairly complicated. The legal system has developed a system of tests and standards to help lawyers and the courts determine who should pay in a personal injury case. The obligation to pay for injuries is known as “liability.” Liability can be shared, and there are different degrees of liability. In fact, some liability applies even if the party at fault did nothing wrong. Use the resources below to learn about how liability works and how courts determine who must pay for which injuries.

Learn About Who Is Liable?

Accident Fault FAQ
A collection of the most frequently asked questions regarding how fault is determined in accidents. Get answers to your questions about the elements of negligence, comparative fault, and much more.
Premises Liability FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about premises liability. In this section, you’ll find answers to your questions about hotel, school, city, and government premises liability law and cases.
Proof in a Negligence Case
An overview of the role of proof and evidence in negligence cases. Learn about direct and circumstantial evidence, the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, and other concepts related to proving negligence.

Social Host Liability
Under the laws of most states, social hosts can be held liable for injuries caused by party guests who drank to excess. In this section, you’ll find information about state social host liability laws, underage drinking, and more.
Premises Liability: Who Is Responsible?
Under premises liability, the owner or occupier of a piece of property is held liable for certain accidents and injuries that occur on the property. Learn about the types of accidents and conditions that can cause premises liability to arise.
Governmental Premises Liability Claims
When a person is injured by a defect or condition on public property, the government may be liable. This section contains information on sovereign immunity, the Federal Tort Claims Act, and other issues related to premises liability claims against the government.

Who Is Liable? Articles