Tort Law Chapter 3: Negligence (Part 1)

Law School

Summary of Chapter 3: Negligence

Chapter 3 of the Tort Law Hornbook explores the fundamental concept of negligence, which occurs when an individual fails to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another. The chapter is structured around five key elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, damages, and defenses to negligence.

Duty of Care:

Definition: A legal obligation to act with reasonable care to avoid causing harm.

Establishing Duty: Factors include the reasonable person standard, foreseeability of harm, special relationships, and statutory duties.

Example: Drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws to prevent accidents.

Breach of Duty:

Definition: Occurs when an individual fails to meet the standard of care required under the circumstances.

Determining Breach: Involves assessing the reasonableness of the defendant’s actions, customary practices, and the balance of risk and burden using the Hand Formula.

Example: A driver running a red light breaches the duty of care owed to other road users.

Causation:

Definition: Links the breach of duty to the harm suffered by the plaintiff.

Factual Causation: The "but-for" test and substantial factor test establish direct links between actions and harm.

Legal Causation: Ensures the harm is a foreseeable and direct result of the breach, within the scope of risks.

Example: A pedestrian hit by a car due to the driver’s negligence establishes causation through the "but-for" test.

Damages:

Definition: Compensation awarded to the plaintiff to restore them to their pre-injury position.

Types of Damages:

Compensatory Damages: Cover economic (e.g., medical expenses, lost wages) and non-economic losses (e.g., pain and suffering).

Punitive Damages: Aim to punish egregious conduct and deter future misconduct.

Example: A plaintiff injured in a car accident may receive compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering.

Defenses to Negligence:

Contributory Negligence: The plaintiff’s own negligence may bar recovery.

Comparative Negligence: Fault is apportioned between parties, reducing the plaintiff’s recovery by their percentage of fault.

Assumption of Risk: The plaintiff knowingly and voluntarily assumes the risk of harm.

Consent: The plaintiff agrees to the defendant’s conduct, negating negligence.

Example: A jaywalking pedestrian hit by a car may have their recovery reduced under comparative negligence.

Understanding these elements and defenses is crucial for analyzing and adjudicating negligence claims, ensuring that parties are fairly held accountable for their actions.

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