Torts
Negligence
A civil wrong based on failing to use reasonable care, causing legally recognized harm to another person.
Plain-English definition
Negligence is the everyday tort of carelessness. The plaintiff generally must prove duty, breach, causation, and damages. The hard fights are often about what duty existed, whether the conduct fell below reasonable care, and what actually caused the injury.
How it works
Negligence cases use fact discovery, experts, medical records, accident reconstruction, standards, policies, and comparative fault arguments.
Why it matters
Negligence is the backbone of personal injury, premises liability, trucking, professional liability, and many insurance disputes.
Related terms
More in Torts
Comparative Negligence
A fault-allocation rule reducing or sometimes barring recovery based on the plaintiff’s share of responsibility.
Damages
Money awarded to compensate for loss, punish misconduct, or otherwise remedy a legal wrong.
Proximate Cause
The legal limit on causation, asking whether the harm is closely enough connected to the defendant’s conduct to justify liability.
Punitive Damages
Money damages awarded to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct, beyond the plaintiff's actual losses.
Not legal advice. Definitions are for general reference. Consult an attorney before relying on any term in a real case.