what is strict liability in law

Strict liability is a legal doctrine that assigns responsibility for damages or injuries even if the person or company that was responsible for the damage or injury was not negligent or demonstrating disregard. In both tort and criminal law, strict liability exists when a defendant is liable for committing an action, regardless of what his/her intent or mental state was when committing the action. In criminal law, strict liability is generally limited to minor offenses, and it is one of the five possible mentes reae (mental states) that a defendant may have in pursuit of the crime. The other four are "acting knowingly," "acting purposely," "acting with recklessness," and "acting with negligence". Strict liability laws were created in Britain in the 19th century to improve working and safety standards in factories). Common strict liability offenses today include the selling of alcohol to underage persons and statutory rape). Strict liability also exists outside of civil law, and it is often utilized by certain industries that need to protect the public from possible harm, such as those dealing with dangerous products or work. The most common strict liability cases are a result of injuries caused by dangerous/defective products, dangerous pets, and ultra-hazardous activities.