What does negligence mean?

• Negligence is the term used to refer to a failure to take proper care.

• The courts have increasingly recognised relationships in which parties have an obligation to avoid causing harm to others whether to their person, their property or to their economic interests.

• In determining whether your conduct is negligent the law expects that people will act not perfectly but reasonably.
• A person who fails to act reasonably and thereby causes harm to another must compensate that person for any loss suffered.
• That does not mean that in all circumstances failure to take reasonable care will create rights in all persons suffering loss.
• As a matter of policy the courts must impose limits on the extent of your responsibility.

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