What is a key characteristic of strict liability in abnormally dangerous activities?

The key characteristic of strict liability in the context of abnormally dangerous activities is that the activity must be inherently unsafe, which is accurately identified in the answer. Strict liability applies to activities that are considered so dangerous that the law imposes liability on the defendant regardless of the precautions taken or the level of care exercised.

Inherently unsafe activities include those that carry a significant risk of harm even when conducted with the utmost care. Examples are using explosives or keeping wild animals, activities that have a high potential for causing harm to others. Under strict liability, it does not matter whether the defendant acted negligently or took all possible precautions; liability exists simply because the activity is classified as abnormally dangerous.

For clarity on the other options, negligence does not factor into strict liability; rather, the focus is solely on the dangerous nature of the activity itself. Similarly, the concept of the defendant needing to be "super careful" contradicts the very essence of strict liability, which operates independently of the care level. Lastly, a defendant cannot avoid liability through precautions in the strict liability context; the nature of the activity itself is what triggers liability, establishing a clear distinction from negligence-based claims.