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Negligence
Definition
A legal cause of action that requires proof of four elements: (1) a duty of care owed to the plaintiff, (2) breach of that duty, (3) causation (both actual and proximate), and (4) damages resulting from the breach. Negligence is a tort that allows injured parties to recover compensation for losses caused by another's failure to exercise reasonable care.
Examples
- •A surgeon operating under the influence of alcohol, or a hospital failing to implement infection control procedures