What is the legal definition of negligence?

Negligence is a legal term used to describe a failure to behave with the level of care expected of someone in a particular situation. It is commonly used in personal injury and accident cases. In Minnesota, negligence is defined as the careless conduct of an individual or party that results in another individual’s injury or property damage. To be found negligent in Minnesota, the person causing the injury must be proven to have a duty of care to the injured individual, but failed to meet that duty. This means the individual or party owed the injured individual a duty to keep them safe from a foreseeable risk or harm. An example of this would be the duty of a driver to use reasonable care to keep other people safe on the road. Additionally, a connection must be shown between the individual’s or party’s breach of their duty of care and the injury or damage that occurred. This connection usually takes the form of causation, meaning that the negligent behavior must be a direct cause of the injuries sustained. Finally, the injured individual must also prove they suffered actual damages or losses as a result of the negligence. These damages or losses include the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and/or pain and suffering. In Minnesota, the legal definition of negligence unites these factors to allow a plaintiff to recover damages when someone else’s careless conduct is responsible for their injuries or property damage.

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What is the legal definition of negligence?

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