Understanding the term “negligence” in a personal injury case

Personal injury lawsuits are some of the most common legal cases to be filed in North Carolina. Sadly, this is because people can be injured in a wide variety of ways, from car accidents to slip-and-fall incidents, and everything in between. When these injuries are caused by another party, a personal injury lawsuit could be a possibility to attempt to recover financial compensation.

In these cases, the term “negligence” is often the key to the case. Simply put, the term “negligence” refers to a party’s failure to abide by a duty owed to other people or failure to behave with the appropriate level of care. Actively doing something could be negligence, but so could omission to take certain steps.

An example

It is probably most helpful to our readers to have an example of negligence, as opposed to grappling with the “legalese” term itself. So, we are all familiar with the scourge of distracted driving these days, particularly when it comes to drivers using their cellphones while operating a vehicle. Drivers who engage in this dangerous conduct are being negligent in their responsibility to drive carefully and with full attention. The danger to other people on the roadways is obvious.

If a distracted driver causes a car accident, any injuries to other parties could be said to be the result of negligence. Financial compensation awarded in a personal injury case could cover the cost of medical bills, among other expenses. However, every case is different, so our readers who might be thinking of pursuing a personal injury claim will need to have the facts of their case evaluated for the proper path forward.