Define: Reasonable Care

Reasonable care refers to the legal standard of conduct expected from individuals to prevent harm to others or their property. It requires individuals to act with the degree of care, diligence, and prudence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. This standard takes into account factors such as the foreseeable risks involved, the likelihood of harm, the potential severity of the harm, and the feasibility of taking precautions to avoid it. Essentially, reasonable care requires individuals to act responsibly and avoid behaviour that could cause harm or injury to others. Failure to exercise reasonable care may result in liability for negligence if it causes harm or damage to another person or their property.

Reasonable Care is the level of care which a reasonable and ordinary person would use under comparable circumstances. If a person does not use reasonable care and the injured party can show they owed them a duty of care, that person can be liable for their negligence if there is injury. Reasonable care applies only to the “ordinary” person so a child or someone with mental limitations would have a lower standard of reasonable care than another person.

In personal injury law, reasonable care is the standard to assess liability. If you have a personal injury case for medical malpractice you must prove professional negligence. But the assumption is a doctor’s duty of care is different than another “ordinary person.” For example, if a patient has been injured due to the actions of a doctor and they can prove the doctor had a duty of care to them and they failed to exercise reasonable care, the doctor may be liable for damages. Duty of care in this particular situation is compared to the manner consistent with other medical professionals in a similar situation.

This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.