How many criteria need to be met for a negligence claim to be valid?

For a negligence claim to be valid, five specific criteria must be satisfied. These criteria establish the framework through which the claim can be evaluated. They include:

1. Duty of Care: The defendant had a legal obligation to act in a certain way toward the claimant.

2. Breach of Duty: The defendant breached that duty by failing to meet the required standard of care.

3. Causation: There must be a direct link between the breach of duty and the harm suffered by the claimant. This involves showing that the defendant's actions (or lack of action) directly caused the injury.

4. Proximate Cause: Also known as legal cause, this criterion requires that the harm was a foreseeable result of the defendant's actions.

5. Damages: The claimant must have suffered actual harm or injury, which can be physical, emotional, or financial.

Understanding these five components is crucial for determining whether a negligence claim holds validity in legal contexts, establishing a clear path for assessing liability.