A major goal for every personal injury lawyer is to prove the liability of the defendant. Notably, the legal concept of liability isn't always quite the same as the common notion of responsibility. Claimants and plaintiffs should understand what that distinction is about, why liability is so important, and how the different kinds of liability work. Liability vs. Responsibility The law distinguishes these two seemingly similar concepts. While all liable people are responsible in the eyes of the law, not all responsible people are liable.