In tort law, what does the term 'negligence' refer to?

Negligence in tort law specifically refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care, which results in harm to another party. This concept is central to tort law, as it establishes when a person may be held liable for damages caused by their lack of care. The essence of negligence lies in the idea that individuals have a duty to act with a certain level of caution and consideration to avoid causing harm to others. If this standard of care is not met, and someone suffers injury or damage as a result, the negligent party may be found liable for those harms.

This framework of negligence typically involves proving that a duty of care existed, that there was a breach of that duty, and that the breach directly caused the damage or injury. Thus, option B captures the essence of negligence by emphasizing the failure to meet the expected standard of care, leading to detrimental consequences for another individual.

The other options focus on different legal concepts. For instance, a failure to fulfill a contractual obligation pertains to contract law rather than tort law. A violation of criminal law involves actions that breach statutes established by the government, which is distinct from civil torts. Intentional harm relates to intentional torts, where harm is deliberately inflicted, contrasting with the unintentional nature of negligence