negligence

In law, doing some act that a ‘prudent and reasonable’ person would not do, or omitting to do some act that such a person would do. Negligence may arise in respect of a person's duty towards an individual or towards other people in general. Breach of the duty of care that results in reasonably foreseeable damage is a tort.

Contributory negligence is a defence sometimes raised where the defendant to an action for negligence claims that the plaintiff by his own negligence contributed to the cause of the action.

A person's duty towards an individual may cover parenthood, guardianship, trusteeship, or a contractual relationship; a person's duty towards other people may include the duties owed to the community, such as care upon the public highway, and the maintenance of structures in a safe condition.