In a jurisdiction with contributory negligence, how does it affect strict liability claims?

In jurisdictions that follow the doctrine of contributory negligence, any degree of fault on the part of the plaintiff can bar recovery in negligence claims. However, when it comes to strict liability, the application of contributory negligence can vary. The correct answer signifies that in these jurisdictions, even though strict liability does not depend on fault in the same way that negligence does, contributory negligence can serve as a complete bar to recovery if the plaintiff is found to have contributed to their own injury.

Strict liability holds a party responsible for damages or harm caused by their activities, regardless of the level of care they exercised. However, if the plaintiff engaged in contributory negligence by somehow participating in their own injury (e.g., by misusing a product), some jurisdictions may rule that such negligence completely bars them from recovering damages, even under a strict liability claim. This means that if the plaintiff contributed to their injury, they cannot recover damages from the shopkeeper or manufacturer even if the strict liability standard is met.

Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes that contributory negligence can entirely prevent recovery in strict liability cases, reflecting the strict nature of this doctrine in certain jurisdictions.