Which concept is used to measure negligence by comparing behavior to a hypothetical reasonable person?

• A. Intervening act
• B. But-for rule
• C. Reasonable person test
• D. Concurrent causation

Answer: (C)

Measuring negligence centers on the reasonable person standard, which asks what a hypothetical reasonable person would have done in similar circumstances. This provides an objective benchmark for whether the defendant breached the duty of care. The standard can reflect appropriate adjustments for the defendant’s physical characteristics or specialized knowledge, ensuring the evaluation fits the situation. The other concepts relate to causation rather than how the duty of care is breached: an intervening act concerns whether a later event breaks the chain of causation; the but-for rule asks whether the harm would have occurred without the defendant’s conduct; and concurrent causation deals with multiple independent causes. So, the concept used to measure negligence by comparing behavior to a hypothetical reasonable person is the reasonable person standard.