What describes a failure to exercise reasonable care that results in harm to another person?

Negligence is the term that describes a failure to exercise reasonable care that results in harm to another person. In legal contexts, negligence involves a breach of a duty of care that a reasonable person would have exercised in a similar situation. When this failure directly leads to injury or damage, the party at fault can be held liable for the consequences of their actions.

For example, if a driver does not pay attention to the road and causes an accident, this act of carelessness reflects negligence. The injured party may seek compensation based on the negligent behavior that led to their injuries.

The other terms refer to different legal concepts. Liability refers to the legal responsibility one has for their actions or omissions and can result from negligence, but it does not specifically denote the failure to exercise care. Assault involves an intentional act that causes another person to fear imminent harm, which is unrelated to negligence. Restitution refers to the act of restoring someone to their original position, often involving compensation after a loss but does not specifically describe the failure in care. Thus, negligence is the most precise term to describe the scenario of failing to exercise reasonable care leading to harm.