Haftbar

Haftbar is a German-language legal adjective meaning liable or responsible for a wrongdoing, debt, or obligation. It derives from the verb haften “to be liable” and the suffix -bar forming adjectives meaning capable of, so haftbar literally means capable of being liable.

In civil and contract law, a party can be haftbar for damages caused by negligence or breach of contract. In German-speaking jurisdictions, liability generally requires a causal connection between the act and the harm, and, depending on doctrine, fault (Verschulden) or strict liability. Haftbarkeit can vary by context, with different standards for individuals, organizations, and professional duties.

Corporate liability and the liability of parents or guardians in certain jurisdictions illustrate haftbar in practice. Product liability rules may hold manufacturers haftbar for defects regardless of fault, subject to statutory limits and defenses such as contributed fault, intervening causes, or consumer responsibility. Insurance arrangements and liability waivers can also influence the practical scope of haftbar.

Etymology and usage: the term comes from haften and the bar- forming suffix, and is used primarily in German legal discourse. In other legal traditions, terms meaning “liable” or “responsible” are used instead, though parallels exist in civil and tort law concepts like causation, fault, and remedies. Haftbar thus denotes a formal status of legal accountability rather than a mere allegation of blame.