If an aircraft sold by a dealership crashes due to a defect, what legal exposure do they face?

The legal exposure that a dealership faces when an aircraft they sold crashes due to a defect is primarily based on strict liability principles. In the context of aviation law, strict liability applies to manufacturers and sellers of defective products. This means that if the aircraft is found to have a defect that caused the crash, the dealership can be held liable regardless of whether they were negligent or had any knowledge of the defect.

Under strict liability, the focus is on the condition of the aircraft at the time of sale. If it can be established that the defect existed when the aircraft left the dealership, the dealership may be responsible for damages resulting from the crash. This responsibility persists even if the dealership followed all standard practices and inspections; the hallmark of strict liability is that liability does not depend on a breach of duty or negligence.

In this scenario, it's important to note that while the manufacturer may also be liable for a defect in the aircraft, it does not absolve the dealership from its responsibilities. Liability can extend to both parties, and the injured party may pursue claims against either or both depending on the circumstances surrounding the defect and the sale.

The other options failure to recognize the role of strict liability in product liability cases or misattribute liability solely to one party, ignoring the broad