Which doctrine allows negligence to be inferred solely from the occurrence of an accident under certain circumstances?

• A. Exclusive control
• B. Res ipsa loquitur
• C. Contributory negligence
• D. Last clear change doctrine

Answer: (B)

Res ipsa loquitur is used when the accident itself strongly suggests negligence. The key elements are that the injury-causing event is of a type that ordinarily would not occur without negligence, the instrumentality that caused the injury was under the defendant’s exclusive control, and the plaintiff did not contribute to the accident. When these conditions apply, the plaintiff can establish negligence based on the occurrence alone, shifting the burden to the defendant to prove there was no negligence or that something else caused the accident. This is why the occurrence of the accident can imply fault without direct evidence of how it happened. For example, a surgical instrument left inside a patient or a broken component in a system that was under the owner’s or manufacturer’s exclusive control. Other doctrines involve different concepts—contributory negligence centers on the plaintiff’s own fault, last clear chance on avoidance after negligence, and exclusive control by itself is a factor rather than a standalone doctrine.