Negligent Tort

Category: legal

A civil wrong occurring when a party fails to exercise the level of care a reasonable person would under similar circumstances.

Negligence is the most common category of tort litigation. It does not require intent to harm; rather, it requires proof of a breached "duty of care" that was the direct and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury. Examples include car accidents and slip-and-falls.

Common Examples

• The store’s failure to clean up the spilled liquid, despite knowing of the hazard, constitutes a classic negligent tort.
• Medical malpractice claims are typically litigated as negligent torts, focusing on the breach of the professional standard of care.