Legal standards for negligence

Legal standards for negligence require showing that someone failed to act with the care that a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances, resulting in harm. Specifically, the plaintiff must prove: (1) the defendant owed a duty of care; (2) the defendant breached that duty by acting unreasonably; (3) the breach caused the injury; and (4) damages occurred. In essence, negligence involves a failure to exercise the caution expected to prevent foreseeable harm. The standard is objective, based on what an average person would do, not on the defendant's intentions or knowledge.