Negligence is not about someone’s intent. It comes down to how they acted and whether they took proper care when they should have. A person or business can be held negligent if they behave in a way that results in unnecessary risk of harm to others.
If you’ve been hurt or financially impacted by someone else’s carelessness, proving negligence might allow you to recover damages. That includes money for medical costs, income loss, emotional suffering, loss of quality of life, and pain.
But proving negligence isn’t automatic. You need facts. You need timelines and evidence. Importantly, you need legal backing.
Common Examples of Negligence
What is considered negligence? Any situation where someone had a duty of care that they failed to meet, and that failure resulted in harm. This can happen in many different settings, some involving individuals and others businesses. Here are some of the most common examples:
Medical Errors
Below are examples of medical malpractice. Health professionals are held to a high standard. When they fall short, the results can be catastrophic.
- A surgeon operates on the wrong body part.
- A doctor fails to diagnose a serious condition despite clear signs.
- A hospital discharges a patient prematurely without proper testing.
Car Accidents
Ontario law makes drivers responsible for operating vehicles with care. Failing to do that can be grounds for a personal injury claim. Examples include:
- A driver texts and runs a red light.
- A truck driver speeds through a school zone.
Unsafe Property Conditions
If a property owner doesn’t keep their space reasonably safe, and someone gets hurt, they can be held responsible. That includes retail stores, apartment buildings, public spaces, and private homes. Here are some negligence examples:
- A grocery store doesn’t clean up a spill for hours.
- A landlord ignores broken stairs in a building entrance.
- A hotel fails to clear ice from the walkway.
- An office building leaves exposed wiring in a public area.
- A shopping mall doesn’t fix broken escalators that pose a tripping hazard.
Professional Malpractice
Professionals are expected to follow the standards of their fields. When their advice or actions fall short, the damage can be far-reaching:
- A lawyer misses a filing deadline that ruins a client’s case.
- An accountant gives incorrect tax advice that leads to an audit.
- An architect approves plans that ignore building code rules.
- A financial advisor recommends high-risk products to an elderly client with low risk tolerance.
Signs You Might Have a Case
If you’re wondering whether your situation qualifies as negligence, ask yourself these questions:
- Were you injured, made ill, or financially impacted?
- Did someone else behave in a careless or unprofessional way?
- Can you connect what they did (or didn’t do) to your harm?
The legal term for this link is causation. It’s not enough that someone was careless. Their carelessness must have caused your specific loss. Without that link, the law doesn’t classify it as negligence.
If you think someone else’s carelessness caused you harm, it’s worth having a lawyer review the details. Negligence law looks straightforward on paper but becomes complex in practice. Proving duty of care, establishing breach, and showing causation takes legal skill and strategy.
Delays can affect your case. Talking to a lawyer as soon as possible gives you the best shot at getting what you’re rightfully entitled to.
Allan Rouben brings knowledge and professionalism to every case. Whether your harm came from a car crash, medical treatment, or professional error, Allan will evaluate your situation and guide you forward. Know your options, and take the next step.