What is negligence in a legal context?

Negligence in a legal context refers to the failure to use ordinary or reasonable care, which results in harm or injury to another person. This concept is central to many personal injury and liability cases. To determine negligence, the law often considers whether an individual acted as a reasonably prudent person would have under similar circumstances.

In athletic training and other professional fields, a practitioner is expected to meet a standard of care in their efforts to protect the health and safety of their clients or athletes. If they fail to meet that standard—such as not providing adequate protection, improperly administering treatments, or overlooking a serious injury—they can be found negligent.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essence of negligence. Deliberate harm pertains more to intentional torts rather than unintentional negligence. The intentional act of carelessness suggests a knowing disregard for protocol or safety that does not align with the standard definition of negligence, which is unintentional. Exceeding the limits of one’s duties refers to actions taken outside the scope of professional responsibilities, which does not necessarily equate to negligence. Consequently, the definition of negligence as the failure to use reasonable care is the most accurate representation of this legal term.