The consequences are almost always financial or injunctive, not punitive in a criminal sense. The losing party (defendant) is typically ordered to pay money (damages) to the winning party (plaintiff) to compensate for losses like medical bills, lost income, or property damage. Sometimes, the court may order the defendant to do or stop doing a specific action. There is no threat of imprisonment, probation, or a criminal record from a standard civil liability judgment.

Liability typically falls on any company in the product’s chain of distribution. This includes the product manufacturer, the parts manufacturer, the assembler, and sometimes the wholesaler or retailer who sold it. Under strict liability rules, you can often sue these parties even if they were not careless. The goal is to hold the responsible commercial entity accountable for placing a dangerous product into the stream of commerce.

Yes, you can be held liable for root damage in many cases. Similar to falling branches, if you were aware of the invasive roots causing problems and did nothing to address them, a court may find you negligent. The key is your knowledge of the problem and your failure to take reasonable corrective action. Your neighbor may also have a claim if they can prove the roots substantially and unreasonably interfere with their use and enjoyment of their property.