Gross Negligence
What is Gross Negligence?
Gross negligence is a level of carelessness that is so extreme that it demonstrates a complete disregard for the well-being of others as if their safety is of no concern to the person at all.
The majority of cases involving personal injuries involve some form of a negligence claim. In a broader sense, negligence refers to any form of carelessness that leads to an injury or damage of some kind. In other cases, however, the issue at hand is a particularly severe form of negligence known as gross negligence. The very definition of recklessness is gross negligence. It is the kind of mentality and behavior that, when described to other people, will generally horrify them because of how indifferent it was toward the well-being of human beings.
Gross negligence, on the other hand, does not necessarily imply that the person intended to cause harm. It simply indicates that they acted in such a reckless manner that it almost certainly put other people in danger, regardless of whether or not that was their intention. As a result, the quality that best characterizes gross negligence is an apparent lack of concern for the well-being of other people, also known as a “I don’t care” attitude.
What are the Key Distinctions Between Everyday Negligence and Gross Negligence?
The term “ordinary negligence” refers to any form of carelessness that ultimately results in an injury. The majority of the time, it’s just because someone wasn’t paying attention or didn’t think things through, and that’s the root of the problem. For instance, if the proprietor of a convenience store isn’t paying close enough attention to their business and doesn’t notice a spill for several hours, this is an example of ordinary negligence. Even though it’s a pretty minor mistake, the owner would be liable in the event that someone slipped and got hurt on their property.
When someone acts with gross negligence, they do something that almost anyone could see would put other people in danger. For instance, if a store owner thought it would be a funny prank to spread some vegetable oil on a step in the store to see which employee slips on it, that could be considered gross negligence on the part of the store owner. There is no intention to cause a serious injury, but it almost seems as though it doesn’t care if someone gets hurt or not.
Examples of Gross Negligence
The following are some straightforward examples of gross negligence:
- When there are children around, a man drives his vehicle up onto a sidewalk at a speed of 20 miles per hour.
- A migraine medication is prescribed to a patient by a doctor, despite the fact that the patient has high blood pressure, and the medication comes with warnings that it can cause an increase in blood pressure.
- A man who was pickpocketed at a crowded festival pulls a gun and fires into the crowd in the direction of the person who committed the theft.
These are just some examples among many others. If an injury results from a situation in which someone completely disobeys the rules of common sense, it is highly likely that the situation qualifies as gross negligence. A lawyer who specializes in personal injury law will be able to tell you whether or not the other party in your case acted with gross negligence.
What Takes Place When Someone Is Grossly Negligent?
If gross negligence results in an injury or other damage, the at-fault party will be held legally liable. In some circumstances, their actions might also be against the law, such as when they commit drunk driving, disorderly conduct, or much more serious offenses, but this is not a requirement to hold them accountable.
Even if someone is never detained or charged with a crime, or even if they are found innocent, they may still be held responsible for the damages. Their legal responsibility is a distinct matter from any criminal investigation.
If you were injured by gross negligence, you will need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney if you want to obtain compensation for your losses.
Our firm has years of experience representing accident victims. Contact us today if you’d like to schedule a free consultation with one of our expert lawyers.
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