Justification

When someone makes a justification claim, they are stating that they had a valid reason to carry out their actions, even if they were unlawful. In extreme circumstances, the court may accept the explanation for their behavior, thereby effectively absolving them. Driving over the speed limit to get to the hospital quickly or trespassing to retrieve your stolen property are two examples of justification.

These instances can be true, but they’re frequently the exception rather than the rule. The majority of the time, a negligent party will defend themselves in court by making up reasons for not being at fault. These consist of the following:

You Didn’t Know It Was Illegal: In court, ignorance is typically not a defense.

You Were Angry at the Person: Numerous crimes are motivated by strong feelings, personal grudges, or the belief that the victim was treated unfairly; however, this does not justify the crime.

You Thought They Were Breaking the Law: Because you do have the right to self-defense, this is a murky area. However, it is rarely acceptable to use excessive force. For instance, it would not be justified to physically harm someone because you witnessed them stealing a candy bar.

The context of the case at hand needs to be taken into account when justifying something. The defense attorney or the insurance company may try to minimize the significance of your accident by employing a tried-and-true strategy that involves exaggerating the “duty” or the “need” to commit a negligent act.