What is Liability Dispute?
A disagreement between parties about who is legally at fault for causing an accident, injury, or other harm.
Understanding Liability Dispute
Liability disputes are common in personal injury cases where both sides present different versions of events. The dispute may involve questions of whether the defendant owed a duty of care, whether that duty was breached, and whether the breach caused the plaintiff's injuries. Resolving liability disputes often requires evidence such as police reports, witness testimony, surveillance footage, and expert analysis.
Examples
- 1Both drivers claiming the other ran a red light
- 2Store disputing that a wet floor caused a customer's fall
- 3Manufacturer arguing product was misused by the consumer
Related Terms
Comparative Negligence
A legal doctrine that allows damages to be apportioned based on each party's degree of fault. The plaintiff's recovery may be reduced by their percentage of fault.
Contributory Negligence
A legal doctrine in which a plaintiff who is found to be even slightly at fault for their own injuries is completely barred from recovering any compensation from the defendant.
Burden of Proof
The duty to prove disputed facts, which in civil cases means proving claims by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not).
Negligence
The failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another person or their property.
Settlement Demand
A written demand from the plaintiff to the defendant or their insurance company requesting a specific amount of compensation to resolve a personal injury claim.
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