What is the legal term for negligence?

Asked by: Broderick Brown  |  Last update: August 30, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (57 votes)

negligentia) is a failure to exercise appropriate care expected to be exercised in similar circumstances. Within the scope of tort law, negligence pertains to harm caused by the violation of a duty of care through a negligent act or failure to act.

What are the 4 types of negligence?

Different Types of Negligence. While seemingly straightforward, the concept of negligence itself can also be broken down into four types of negligence: gross negligence, comparative negligence, contributory negligence, and vicarious negligence or vicarious liability.

What is the legal term for neglect?

negligence. n. failure to exercise the care toward others which a reasonable or prudent person would do in the circumstances, or taking action which such a reasonable person would not.

What is the best synonyms for negligence?

Synonyms
  • neglect.
  • neglectfulness.
  • carelessness.
  • laxity.
  • inattention.
  • thoughtlessness.
  • heedlessness.
  • disregard.

What is it called when you sue someone for negligence?

1) Negligence cases are civil cases, which are known as “tort actions.” The term “tort” simply means a legal wrong.

Legal Terms: Negligence

33 related questions found

What is the legal term of negligence?

Negligent is a legal term used to describe behavior that fails to meet the level of care that a reasonable person would have exercised under the same circumstances. Either a person's actions or omissions of actions can be found negligent.

What is the average payout for negligence?

On average, personal injury settlements range between $10,000 and over $75,000. A settlement is a financial agreement reached between the injured party and the party at fault or their insurance company to compensate for damages caused by an accident or negligence.

What is another name for professional negligence?

Professional negligence, often termed “malpractice,” occurs when a professional's conduct falls below the accepted standards of their profession, causing harm to a client. This breach of their professional duty constitutes malpractice.

What is the word for neglecting responsibilities?

Dereliction is a word for neglecting responsibilities. Failing to care for your family or do your job are examples of dereliction. If you are letting things go, you are engaged in dereliction. Not mowing your lawn is an example of dereliction; so is not feeding your children.

What is the crime of negligence called?

Criminal negligence (sometimes called culpable negligence) refers to a defendant who acts in disregard of a serious risk of harm that a reasonable person in the same situation would have perceived. Another common definition includes an act that amounts to a gross deviation from the general standard of care.

What is wrongful negligence?

WRONGFUL DEATH CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE. Oftentimes, an individual's death occurs from another person's negligence. Negligence is the failure to behave with a level of care that a reasonable person would exercise in a similar circumstance. In other words, negligence is simply a mistake made by another person.

What is a legal term that means the absence of negligence refers to _______________?

A legal term that means “the absence of negligence” refers to. Due care.

What does negligible mean in law?

: so small or unimportant or of so little consequence as to warrant little or no attention : trifling. a negligible error.

What four things are needed to prove negligence?

In order to establish negligence, you must be able to prove four “elements”: a duty, a breach of that duty, causation and damages. Duty: You must first prove that the person against whom your claim is made owed a duty to you.

What is a professional negligence claim?

The definition of professional negligence is when a professional fails to perform their responsibilities to the required standard or breaches a duty of care. This poor conduct subsequently results in a financial loss, physical damage or injury of their client or customer.

What is the ABC rule of negligence?

Summarize the ABC Rule. Anyone who causes damages to someone else, where the act or inaction would foreseeably cause damages and where the extent of the damages was also foreseeable, will be held liable, as long as the act or inaction was the direct or proximate cause of the loss.

What is the legal word for not responsible?

not liable (adjective as in exempt)

What is a synonym for negligence of duty?

Some common synonyms of negligent are lax, neglectful, remiss, and slack. While all these words mean "culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness," negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

What is another word for diminished responsibility?

In criminal law, diminished responsibility (or diminished capacity) is a potential defense by excuse by which defendants argue that although they broke the law, they should not be held fully criminally liable for doing so, as their mental functions were "diminished" or impaired.

What is the legal term negligence?

Negligence is the failure to behave with the level of care that a reasonable person would have exercised under the same circumstances. Either a person's actions or omissions of actions can be found negligent.

What is professional negligence often called?

Professional negligence is also termed malpractice . It occurs when a professional breaches a duty to a client ( see also negligence ).

What is a type of negligence committed by a professional called?

The courts define malpractice as the failure of a professional person to act in accordance with the prevailing professional standards, or failure to foresee consequences that a professional person, having the necessary skills and education, should foresee.

How do I sue for negligence?

Suing for Negligence: An 8-Step Guide
  1. Seek Medical Attention. Your health is the priority. ...
  2. Document the Incident. ...
  3. Report the Incident. ...
  4. Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer (Optional) ...
  5. Investigate and Gather Evidence. ...
  6. File the Complaint. ...
  7. Engage in Discovery. ...
  8. Negotiate or Go to Trial.

What is a reasonable settlement offer?

The settlement amounts should reflect the damages suffered by the plaintiff, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future medical care, and other related costs. The key to fair financial compensation is to determine whether the offer is reasonable and aligns with the extent of the damages.

What damages are awarded for negligence?

Remedies available for negligence claims

Damages are awarded for both economic and non-economic loss. In cases involving negligence resulting in personal injury, additional damages can be awarded for things such as medical expenses and loss of income.