The failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person would exercise to avoid harming others is called?

• A. In pari delicto
• B. Exculpatory clause
• C. Negligence
• D. Usury

Answer: (C)

Negligence means the failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person would exercise to avoid harming others. In tort law, it involves four elements: a duty to exercise reasonable care toward others, a breach of that duty, causation linking the breach to actual damages, and damages that were a foreseeable result of the breach. When someone’s actions fall short of the standard of care and this creates a risk or causes harm, liability can arise.

Other terms describe different concepts. In pari delicto refers to a situation where both parties are at fault, not about the required standard of care. An exculpatory clause is a contract provision attempting to release one party from liability. Usury refers to charging excessively high interest. None of these capture the idea of failing to meet the reasonable-care standard that harms others, which is the essence of negligence.