Definition of negligence: what is it?

Basic definition of negligence

Negligence occurs when someone injures or causes a loss to another because of their careless or reckless behaviour.

In everyday life, negligence could include a lack of care for the consequences of one’s actions or using less care than that of a reasonable person. For example, there is an offence of ‘negligent driving’.

If someone has caused you a loss or injury due to their carelessness, you may be entitled to compensation.

Legal definition of negligence

In legal terms, negligence is a civil tort that occurs when a person breaches their duty of care owed to another and as a result, that person suffers an injury or a loss.

When might negligence arise?

Negligence can arise in many situations, including:

On the road
Medical and health care
At work
Work carried out by professionals, e.g. lawyers, accountants, surveyors, architects, etc
Work carried out by tradesman, builders, engineers, etc
Faulty Products

Getting legal advice - let us help

If you think you might have a negligence claim, you can contact one of our civil litigation solicitors. They will assess your case and work out if you are owed compensation from the negligent party.

In addition, a civil litigation solicitor may be willing to take your case on under a no-win, no-fee arrangement.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on negligence, we can put you in touch with a local civil litigation solicitor free of charge. Please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.