What is "negligence" in law?

Negligence in law refers to the failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances, which directly leads to harm or damages. This legal concept is foundational in tort law and is crucial for determining liability when an individual or entity's lack of caution results in injury to another person or property.

In a negligence case, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant had a duty of care to act in a certain way, that the duty was breached through a lack of reasonable care, and that this breach directly caused the plaintiff’s injury or damages. The standard is based on how an average person would act in comparable situations, which illustrates the importance of societal norms in assessing appropriate behavior.

Understanding this definition emphasizes how negligence can occur not from intentional actions but from carelessness or inattentiveness, which can often result in significant harm to others.