What is the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur in civil law?

The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is an important part of civil law in Washington. This Latin phrase translates to "the thing speaks for itself," which refers to the concept that a person or entity is assumed to be responsible when harm is inflicted by an object or action. For example, if a person is injured by a flying object, then it is reasonable to assume that either the person who threw the object or the property owner allowed the action to take place, thus making them responsible for the damage. Under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, the party that is bringing the case does not need to prove that the other party was negligent, only that the injury or harm is due to the other party’s negligence or breach of duty. This legal concept is based on common sense, as it allows juries to use logical reasoning to reach a verdict. In order to prove negligence under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur in Washington, the plaintiff must show that the harm was caused by an instrumentality controlled by the defendant, that the entity had exclusive control of the instrumentality that caused the harm, and that no other reasonable explanation exists for the harm. If this can be proven, then it can be assumed that the defendant was negligent and responsible for the injury.

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What is the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur in civil law?

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