Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer - Article

Negligence

There are two broad types of torts claims: intentional torts, such as battery and assault, and negligent torts. Negligence is a legal concept in common law legal systems, like that of the United States, which allows people to receive compensation for injuries. Negligence is a type of tort, but it is sometimes applied to criminal law as well.

Negligence and “carelessness” are not the same thing. This is because a person could be exercising care in a situation but still fall below the standard of competence that is expected of them. Negligence is the opposite of diligence. It can generally be defined as conduct that is culpable because it falls below the level of what a reasonable person would do in the same situation to protect an individual from any foreseeable risks of harm.

In civil litigation for torts, the injured person must be able to prove that the negligent actions of another person caused his or her injuries. If this can be done, the injured person can recover damages to compensate for the harm that has been done. Once negligence has been proven, damages can be claimed for damage to the injured party’s person, property, mental wellbeing, financial status, or intimate relationships.

Negligence cases and suits are very fact-specific, so a general definition does not fully explain the concept and range of negligence. The law of negligence at the common law level is only one aspect of liability. While damages must be proven in order to recover compensation, the nature and extent of those damages are not the only important part of a negligence lawsuit.

Contact a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured due to another’s negligence, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake at 312-466-8200 to discuss your case and to determine your legal options.