What type of liability does the circus owner face if their tiger escapes and injures someone in the audience?

The circus owner faces tort liability if their tiger escapes and injures someone in the audience. Tort liability arises from civil wrongs that cause harm or loss to others, and it is primarily governed by state law. In this case, the circus owner has a duty to ensure the safety of those attending the event, and if a dangerous animal, like a tiger, escapes and injures an individual, the owner could be found negligent for failing to control or secure the animal properly.

This type of liability is particularly significant in situations involving potentially hazardous activities or animals, where the owner has a higher responsibility to manage risks effectively. The law recognizes that certain activities, such as keeping wild animals, inherently carry risks, which can lead to liability if proper safety measures are not implemented.

Other types of liability, such as criminal liability, involve violations of law that lead to prosecution by the state. Contractual liability pertains to breaches of contracts, which doesn't apply to this scenario since there is no contracted obligation being violated. Vicarious liability refers to a situation where one party is held liable for the actions of another, typically in an employer-employee relationship, which does not apply directly in this case of the circus owner and the behavior of the tiger.