In civil law, what does "negligence" refer to?

Negligence in civil law is defined as the failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would typically exercise in similar circumstances. This is assessed based on what actions an average person would take to prevent harm to others. The concept involves not just a lack of action, but also a failure to act in a way that minimizes risk and potential harm to others.

In civil negligence cases, the plaintiff must typically prove that the defendant had a duty to act with care, that this duty was breached, and that the breach resulted in damages. This understanding of negligence plays a central role in personal injury law, where individuals seek compensation for damages caused by another's failure to act appropriately.

The other options do not accurately capture the definition of negligence. For instance, intentional harm refers to actions taken to deliberately cause harm to another party, which is distinctly different from the concept of negligence involving a lack of care. A legal defense against criminal charges pertains to different judicial considerations that do not relate to civil negligence. Lastly, the proper exercise of care in legal documents does not pertain to negligence as it focuses on the drafting or processing of documents rather than on the actions of individuals in avoiding harm.