Glossary · Torts
Negligence
negligence-fb092ba8fdbfe1c7-2026-07-28
- Type
- Glossary
- Jurisdiction
- National
- Date
- 2026-07-28
- Topic
- Torts
The failure to use the care a reasonably prudent person would use in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another. A plaintiff must prove four elements: a duty of care, breach of that duty, causation, and damages. It is the backbone of most personal-injury and professional-malpractice litigation.
Definition
The failure to use the care a reasonably prudent person would use in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another. A plaintiff must prove four elements: a duty of care, breach of that duty, causation, and damages. It is the backbone of most personal-injury and professional-malpractice litigation.
Negligence. The failure to use the care a reasonably prudent person would use in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another. A plaintiff must prove four elements: a duty of care, breach of that duty, causation, and damages. It is the backbone of most personal-injury and professional-malpractice litigation. Example: The store's failure to clean up the spill it knew about for an hour was straightforward negligence.