Negligence in Injury Law

The tort of negligence describes a failure to act as a reasonable person would in certain situations. The negligent party acts in a careless or reckless manner. For example, a surgeon who leaves a sponge inside of a patient likely failed to exercise the same care as a reasonable surgeon. The patient could then file a medical malpractice suit, which is a type of personal injury lawsuit.

This FindLaw article provides an overview of negligence basics.

An Overview of Negligence

The law requires individuals to conduct themselves as a reasonable person under the same circumstances. This is known as the “reasonable person standard.” If a person or party fails to live up to that standard, they risk being subject to a negligence claim.

To prove that a defendant was negligent, a plaintiff must show the elements of negligence exist in their case. The elements of negligence are:

• Duty of Care

• Breach

• Causation

• Damages

Proving these elements involves legal knowledge and analysis.

Proving a Negligence Case

The first step of proving a negligence case is determining whether the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care.

Duty of Care

Generally, determining if the defendant owed a duty will depend on the circumstances. For example, a driver owes a duty to other drivers on the road. That driver must drive like a reasonable person. Whether a defendant had a duty to the plaintiff is a question of law the judge ordinarily determines.

Breach of Duty

The next step is showing that the defendant breached their legal duty to the plaintiff. Generally speaking, a defendant breaches their duty by not exercising reasonable care in fulfilling the duty. For example, a driver who drives too fast is breaching their duty to drive as a reasonable person. Whether a defendant breached their duty is a question of fact that is decided by the jury.

Causation

The third element of a negligence claim is causation. It consists of two parts: causation in fact and proximate causation. Cause in fact is a simple test: "but for" the defendant's actions, the plaintiff's injury would not have occurred. Proximate cause, however, is a little more complicated. It relates to the scope of a defendant's responsibility. The scope of responsibility depends on whether the defendant could have foreseen the harm to the plaintiff. If the harm could not have been foreseen, the plaintiff cannot prove proximate cause.

Damages

The final element a plaintiff must prove is damages. Proving damages requires a plaintiff to establish a legally recognized harm. This is usually physical injury or property damage. The defendant's breach of duty must have caused actual damages to the plaintiff for a negligence claim to succeed.

Car Accident Cases

Car accidents, also known as motor vehicle accidents or auto accidents, are among the most common situations in which negligence occurs. Motorists are expected to follow traffic laws and drive responsibly to ensure safety. Failure to do so can result in a car crash, which could lead to significant injuries or property damage.

A breach of this duty, such as running a red light or a rear-end collision due to distraction, can be grounds for a negligence claim. In these scenarios, the negligence principles come into action. It must be proven that:

• The offending motorist owed a duty of care to the victim

• The motorist breached that duty by violating traffic laws or driving irresponsibly

• This breach directly caused the accident and the damages

A skilled car accident lawyer has the knowledge and experience to:

• Gather evidence

• Construct a compelling case

• Represent the victim's interests, either in negotiations with insurance companies or in court if necessary. Each car accident case is unique, with its own set of circumstances. Having professional legal advice can make a significant difference to the outcome of a negligence claim resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Thus, seeking the counsel of a car accident lawyer soon after the incident can be a prudent step toward achieving a favorable resolution.

Wrongful Death and Accident Claims

When a car accident results in the unfortunate and tragic loss of life, a wrongful death claim may arise. Wrongful death claims can occur if the victim was killed as a result of negligence or misconduct of another party.

Similar to other negligence cases, the surviving family members must prove that the at-fault party breached their duty of care, which directly caused the death of the victim and resulted in damages. These claims aim to provide financial compensation to the surviving family members for losses such as lost wages from the deceased, lost companionship, and funeral expenses.

On the other hand, an accident claim generally applies when the injured party survives the incident. In such cases, the injured party or their legal representative files a claim against the at-fault party to recover compensation for damages incurred as a result of the accident. Damages can include medical bills, loss of income, property damage, and compensation for pain and suffering.

Medical bills form a significant part of the claim, as they account for emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitative therapy, and any necessary future medical care. The injured party has the right to claim these expenses from the at-fault party or their insurance company.

Comparative and Contributory Negligence in Personal Injury Law

In the realm of personal injury law, particularly in the tort of negligence, two terms you might come across are comparative negligence and contributory negligence. These doctrines deal with situations where both the plaintiff and the defendant contributed to the accident or injury. The rules around these concepts can significantly impact the outcome of a negligence case.

Contributory Negligence

This is an older rule that is followed by a small number of states. Under this rule, if a plaintiff is found to have been even slightly negligent, say 1% at fault, they cannot recover any damages from the other party. This doctrine can lead to harsh outcomes, which has led many states to adopt the more lenient rule of comparative negligence.

Comparative Negligence

Under this more common rule, the damage award is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff. For example, if you were 20% at fault for your injury, and your total damages were $100,000, you would receive $80,000.

There are two main types of comparative negligence — pure and modified. In a pure system, plaintiffs can recover even if they are 99% at fault. In a modified system, plaintiffs are barred from recovery if they are equally to blame (50/51% or more) or more at fault than the other party.

Get Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from a car accident, you may have a car accident claim and should speak to a personal injury lawyer. Some personal injury lawyers specialize in car accident claims arising from negligence. They are personal injury experts and can give you sound legal advice on your claim. Speak to an experienced personal injury attorney today.