Strict liability is a standard that holds a defendant responsible regardless of the intent or mental state of the defendant. This differs from most crimes or civil wrongs where the defendant’s mental state can be a key factor in assessing harm and penalties.

In the civil sphere, there are two main types of strict liability: animal attacks and products liability. In both cases, the defendant is being held strictly liable for things that are effectively owned by the plaintiff. 

In order to show someone is strictly liable, it must be shown that the evidence supports the strict liability claim. For example, in the event of an animal attack it must be shown that the animal did attack someone and the defendant knew that the animal had a proclivity to attack others. 

The best defense against strict liability is to demonstrate how the case is not actually about strict liability. Due to the nature of strict liability, if the burden of proof is met and strict liability is found to apply then in most cases there is little that can be done. If a defendant is facing strict liability charges they should consult with a personal injury attorney to explore defenses. 

The penalties for strict liability vary depending on the penalties for the crime or civil wrong. The more severe the underlying charge, the more severe the fine or penalty. The only thing strict liability impacts is the way that liability can be demonstrated.