What is Liability?
Liability is the legal responsibility for one’s acts or omissions; an obligation one is bound to by law to perform, typically involving the payment of monetary damages. It is one of the most significant words in the field of law.
According to Black’s Law Dictionary, liability is defined as “the state of being legally responsible for something, such as a debt or obligation.” As such, it assumes that a person is responsible for the harm they cause another. There are several different types of liability including contractual liability, when one party breaks a contract, tort liability from civil wrongs, or strict liability where a party is held responsible for damages, regardless of fault.
Liability is important in law because it ensures individuals are held responsible for their actions, and that injured parties receive compensation. An example of a liability is a driver who causes an accident by driving recklessly. The driver will be held liable for any resulting injuries to people and property. Understanding liability is essential for individuals, businesses, and legal professionals to navigate legal responsibilities they owe to others.
More information about Liability
Munley Law Earns Tier 1 Rankings From Best Law Firms® in 2025
Munley Law is pleased to announce it has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® in five practice areas.
Founded in 1959, Munley Law is a national leader in personal injury law. Our personal injury lawyers have been listed in Best Lawyers in America® and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® and have earned board certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Munley Law received the following Regional Tier 1 rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms® for Northeastern Pennsylvania:
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Insurance Law
Earlier this year, nine of our personal injury attorneys were named to The 2025 Best Lawyers in America® list. […]
Read MoreMore information about Liability
Honesdale Truck Accident Lawyer
With its strategic central location and access to major highways, airports, and busy warehouses and factories, Northeast PA is a center of commercial activity. Our roads and interstates are lifelines for commerce but can also be sites of serious truck accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash in Honesdale, you will need an experienced truck and car accident lawyer.
The team at Munley Law understands the challenges faced by individuals and families dealing with the aftermath of trucking accidents in Honesdale and NEPA. We are a second-generation family of personal injury attorneys. NEPA is our home, and our clients are our neighbors. For 65 years, we have fought for PA accident victims and won record-breaking settlements. Let us fight for you.
How a Honesdale Truck Accident Attorney Can Help You
The consequences can be devastating when you’re involved in a truck accident in Honesdale, […]
Read MoreMore information about Liability
Katie Nealon
Katie Nealon is a passionate personal injury attorney for her clients and takes great pride in helping those in need. Her work focuses on truck accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and premises liability cases.
Katie has received numerous industry awards. She holds a board certification in Truck Accident Law from the National Board of Trial Advocacy and was recently named a Best Lawyer in America for 2025. She has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2017 and was selected for inclusion in the Pennsylvania Bar Leadership Institute Class of 2017-2018.
She graduated summa cum laude from Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, California, where she was an editor of the Whittier Law Review. She was recognized as an Outstanding Graduate in Business Law and won the Trial Advocacy competition: Best Cross Examination Award.
Katie was the district coordinator for the High School Mock Trial Competition, […]
Read MoreMore information about Liability
What’s the Difference Between Premises Liability and Personal Liability?
If you’ve experienced a loss or injury, it’s important to determine whether the blame falls on an individual’s behavior or a hazardous condition on a property. This is why it’s important to understand the distinction between premises liability and personal liability. Both terms relate to the legal responsibility that may come into play in liability cases when victims seek justice and compensation from an individual or a property owner through a legal claim.
Understanding Premises Liability
For those injured on someone else’s property, understanding premises liability is necessary to explore options for justice. This area of law holds a property owner responsible for maintaining a safe environment for residents, employees, and visitors alike. When a property owner neglects this duty, they may be held liable for any injuries sustained.
Common types of premises liability claims include slip and fall accidents, […]
Read MoreMore information about Liability
Average Settlement for a Pedestrian Hit By a Car
Pedestrians are often far more vulnerable than motorists when navigating busy cities and towns. In a car, a motorist or passenger is surrounded by a steel frame that absorbs the shock of impact during a collision. A pedestrian is not afforded nearly the same degree of protection.
You may deserve compensation if you’ve been harmed in a pedestrian accident you believe resulted from the negligence of another party. Although settlement amounts can be substantial in these cases, as injuries in a pedestrian accident are often serious, the “average” settlement after a pedestrian accident varies widely. Factors like whether a victim has proper representation can play a significant role in the outcome of a case.
Still struggling with the physical and emotional aftermath of being struck by a vehicle, wondering if legal action is your next step? At Munley Law, our pedestrian accident attorneys have guided countless pedestrians through this exact situation, […]
Read More