Negligence is defined as?

Negligence is defined as?

• A. Failure to meet the standard of care even when no injury occurs.
• B. Failure to exercise the degree of care considered reasonable under the circumstances, resulting in an unintended injury to another party.
• C. A willful act intended to cause harm.
• D. A minor mistake with no consequences.

Answer: (B)

Negligence happens when someone fails to provide the level of care a reasonable person would under the circumstances, and that failure leads to harm. The correct choice captures both parts: not meeting a reasonable standard of care and the resulting unintended injury to someone else. That combination is what distinguishes negligence from other actions. Why the other ideas don’t fit as well: suggesting harm isn’t needed ignores the harm element that makes a breach of care form a negligence claim; describing a willful act to harm is an intentional tort, not negligence; and a minor mistake with no consequences doesn’t involve the necessary harm or risk of harm.

Negligence happens when someone fails to provide the level of care a reasonable person would under the circumstances, and that failure leads to harm. The correct choice captures both parts: not meeting a reasonable standard of care and the resulting unintended injury to someone else. That combination is what distinguishes negligence from other actions.

Why the other ideas don’t fit as well: suggesting harm isn’t needed ignores the harm element that makes a breach of care form a negligence claim; describing a willful act to harm is an intentional tort, not negligence; and a minor mistake with no consequences doesn’t involve the necessary harm or risk of harm.