What is negligence commonly defined as?

Negligence is commonly defined as a type of tort that involves a failure to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances. This definition emphasizes the standard of care expected in various situations and indicates that negligence arises when an individual's actions (or lack thereof) do not meet that standard, resulting in harm to another party.

In legal terms, to prove negligence, four elements must typically be established: a duty of care, a breach of that duty, causation, and damages. The essence of negligence lies in the idea that individuals are expected to behave in a manner that does not put others at risk, and when they fail to do so, they may be held liable for any injuries or damages that occur as a result.

The other options presented do not accurately define negligence. Coverage in an insurance policy specifically refers to the protections offered within the policy, while intentional acts causing harm pertain to intentional torts, which are distinct from negligence. Lastly, doing this as an exclusion in insurance policies pertains to specific situations or conditions that are not covered by the policy, rather than defining a legal concept. Therefore, the choice that aligns with the legal understanding of negligence is the one that describes it as a type of tort involving a failure to conduct oneself as a