What Constitutes Negligence?

What Constitutes Negligence?

In any type of personal injury claim—whether it stems from an auto accident, a slip and fall, a maritime accident, a dangerous or harmful product, or any other situation in which an injury is sustained—your ability to collect compensation to cover your medical bills, costs of repairing damaged property, and any other losses you suffer rests on your ability to prove that you were a victim of negligence.

So what is negligence? Most simply put, negligence is a person’s failure to take proper care to act in a way that he or she is reasonably expected to. Proving negligence in a personal injury lawsuit means demonstrating that certain conditions were met.

Legally proving negligence

If you are seeking compensation for an injury you believe resulted from negligent action or failure to act, you must be able to prove that the following circumstances existed in relation to your injury:

• There was a duty to act or a duty of care. Most people assume duty of care by simply participating in society. For example, all motorists automatically assume a duty to drive safely and responsibly, property owners have a duty to make their premises safe for those who visit, product manufacturers have a duty to produce items that do not injure consumers, etc.
• There was a breach in the duty of care. The person or company in question failed to perform their duty adequately by either acting irresponsibly (such as driving recklessly, failing to follow traffic laws, choosing to drink and drive, etc.) or by failing to act in a way that meets their duty (ignoring hazardous conditions on a property they own, using harmful materials like lead paint in a consumer product, etc.).
• Actual and proximate cause. That the breach of duty is what caused your accident and resulting injury. For example, another driver ran a red light, crashing into your car and you suffered an injury in the collision. Or you slipped and fell, injuring yourself on a freshly-mopped floor because there was no sign indicating a wet floor.
• Damages. You must be able to demonstrate that you suffered real and measurable damages, whether they be medical costs you incur due to your injury, destroyed or damaged property (such as your vehicle) that requires repairs or replacement, lost wages due to missed work, or even emotional trauma related to an accident.

Consult a personal injury attorney in Texas to determine if your injury resulted from negligence

If you were hurt in a motor vehicle accident or suffered any type of injury you believe resulted from negligence, a personal injury attorney from Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers can help you determine if you are entitled to compensation and support you throughout the legal process. Contact us online or call (281) 645-5000 today to lean more.