A tort involving failure to use a degree of care considered reasonable under a given set of circumstances. Acts of either omission or commission, or both, may constitute negligence. The four elements of negligence are a duty owed to a plaintiff, a breach of that duty by the defendant, proximate cause, and an injury or damage suffered by the plaintiff. Liability policies are designed to cover claims of negligence.
Definition provided by the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) Glossary of Insurance.
